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An innovative new Mobile Engagement Unit, officially took to the road after it was launched this week in Newry.
The vehicle has been adapted and kitted out with the latest audio visual equipment. Four monitors will be inside the unit and one facing on the outside so that presentations can be seen both inside and outside the unit, with a side awning providing further opportunities for use. Five gaming consoles will be included within the unit which will help to facilitate PSNI engagement, particularly with young people. It also has an external racing simulator which can be utilised with young persons and at road safety events.
The aim of the vehicle is maximise engagement, education and crime prevention opportunities with the public.
PSNI Sgt Warren Roberts, Newry City Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), said, "The idea of a mobile facility is to enhance the service we provide and increase contact with the public, particularly young people in our communities.
“The mobile resource is a positive step forward in community policing. Continuing changes to policing has required the PSNI to rethink how it interacts with the community. Getting policing right and making our communities safer is a key priority for us.
“We have been working with our partners in the Police and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to deliver this valuable resource for our communities in Newry, Mourne and Down.”
Chairperson of Newry, Mourne & Down PCSP, Councillor Alan Lewis, said – ‘The PCSP works in partnership with the PSNI to develop opportunities for community-police engagement across our Council District. We are delighted to have been involved in the development of this new state-of-the-art Mobile Engagement Unit which will be used to engage with local residents and communities, especially young people and isolated groups. The Unit will also be used to support community events and will be taken directly into communities to support a range of activities – the benefits and opportunities really are endless.’
Housing Executive Area Manager for South Down, Liam Gunn, said: “Tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour is a priority for the Housing Executive, and partnership working is extremely important to enable us to do this. Therefore we welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with PSNI and PCSP to deliver this additional resource in Newry, Mourne and Down. This project allows agencies to work together and to maximise PSNI engagement with communities and individuals from hard to reach areas and minority groups, combat organised crime, target ASB hotspots, and reduce fear of crime which is important in our Housing Executive communities.”
