DRUGS-CRIME A PRIORITY SAYS NEW POLICE CHIEF

Tackling drug related crime continues to be a priority for police in
Ballymena but it's also a problem which the community can help officers to
solve, the newly appointed Commander for 'H' District has said.

Speaking to The Ballymena Times last Thursday, as he took up the top
regional PSNI post, Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum stressed that people
at grassroots level have a very real and important role to play in the
fight against illegal drugs.

"We are also working with other partners to try and manage in a more
effective way the harm that drugs bring to a community.

"We are working to impact upon those that are dealing drugs but we can't
give way to paranoia - a balance has to be struck," he said. Having been a
serving police officer for 24 years, most of them based in County Armagh,
the new commander of the PSNI's ' H' District said he regards the post as
"a refreshing new challenge".

And from his new base at Ballymena Police Station, he intends, with public
and partnership support, to continue the drive towards reducing crime,
increasing crime detection and enhancing communities' experience of
policing.

"I intend to put my own stamp on it and that will be based on the
environment whereby the service is delivered," he told The Ballymena Times
on Thursday morning.

Mr McCrum said he was well aware of the widespread public desire for a
more visible police presence on the ground and confirmed that his new
District Command Unit was well placed to provide that.

"That is a reflection of our commitment in this area but we do not have
finite resources so we must make sure our officers are distributed across
the district in such a way that supports the demand for policing," said Mr
McCrum.