Henry and McIlveen oppose Portglenone PSNI closure

And his words have been echoed in a letter to police by Bannside DUP representative, Billy Henry (pictured above).

Speaking last week in the wake of the public meeting in Portglenone to discuss the possibility of the closure of rural police stations, he said: “Public opinion is completely against the closure of this station and it is not difficult to understand why. When local stations in Moneymore and Kilrea were closed, the police promised a more flexible approach to local policing, including mobile vans and satellite surgeries. They promised there would as good a service, if not better, than ever before. Quite frankly, this did not happen.

“The loss of local police stations is just another kick in the teeth to rural communities,” he said.

“In my view, this is not just about bricks and mortar. A police station in a village shows the public that the police care about that community. I don’t think that the police should be placed in the same category as the fire or ambulance services, in that a centralised service works for them.

“The police are asking local people on the ground to be their eyes and ears when crimes take place. For this to be effective, there must be trust between the police and the local community. I truly believe that this will be lost if we close our stations.

“The work being done by the Policing Board and my own Community Engagement Committee is under threat of being undone if we allow this rural retreat to be made reality,” said Mr McIlveen.

Meanwhile Councillor Billy Henry has contacted the Police Chief Superintendant to urge him to keep rural police stations, including Portglenone open.

Mr Henry said: “The need for local Police Officers on the streets of the rural towns and villages is of paramount importance to the local community, in particular at this time when the rural areas are suffering from a blight of theft, and our towns and villages are frequently being abused by antisocial behaviour.

Whilst it is important to keep local officers, it is equally important to retain their local base, if only for the purpose of dealing with complaints, taking statements or dealing with everyday.”

The purposed closure of Portglenone station leaves a vast area without a station that the public can call at in times of need,” he said.

“We should remember that we the local councillors and the police depend on the general public for their help in many ways.

“For the authorities to remove the local point of contact with the local police, would in my opinion, be detrimental to all the good work that has gone on before, by local officers who have given of their time, and who care.”