Beggs concerned by further reduction on policing in Carrickfergus

Following the decision of the District Commander Superintendent Henry Irvine to further restrict policing operation from Carrickfergus Police Station, Roy Beggs MLA said, 'As a Public Representative and a Member of the Carrickfergus District Policing Partnership, I was astonished to learn of the decision to restrict policing operations from Green Street PSNI Station via an email from the media. This is particularly unsatisfactory as during previous discussions on changes to policing operations within Carrickfergus I was advised that consultation would happen prior to any further proposed changes.'

The Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim added, 'The PSNI have advised that the decision to restrict night time Station operations will enable PSNI Officers to carryout patrolling duties rather than having to man the Station. However, given the previous decision to redeploy most of the operational staff from Carrickfergus to Newtownabbey, we do not even have any guarantee that the redeployment will result in additional police patrols within the Carrickfergus Borough'.

Roy Beggs added 'I have written to Superintendent Irvine expressing my concern about the decision and the manner in which it has been taken, and asking him to reassess his decision.'