For the first three weeks anti-social behavior awareness workshops were delivered by Council’s Community Safety Wardens and the PSNI’s rural neighbourhood policing team. Areas explored included the types of anti-social behavior and its effect on the community especially the elderly and the vulnerable.
It also detailed consequences of being involved in anti-social behaviour and the impact of having a criminal record on future job prospects and travelling opportunities.
The focus then turned to photography and those involved embarked on photography projects including graffiti hotspots, derelict houses, Enagh Lough and Crumlin Road jail.
Eddie Breslin, NIHE Cohesion Advisor, said: “The Shared Communities Programme aims to develop shared areas where people choose to live with others, regardless their religion or race, in a neighbourhood that is safe, welcoming to all and threatening to no-one. We are delighted to have been involved with the ‘Through the Lens’ project as it will lead to better relationships within the community
and a better understanding of how issues such as anti-social behaviour
can affect people within that
community. “
Alderman Drew Thompson, Chair of the Derry Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) said: “The PCSP was delighted to support this innovative, intergenerational programme in which our rural community safety warden team played an important role. I am confident that the initiative has built trust and relationships within the community and between the participants, the police and the community safety wardens. I would like to commend all those who participated in the programme and congratulate them on the impressive standard of images produced.”
Chairman of the Strathyfoyle Community Association Alex Duffy, said the project had been developed in conjunction with Strathfoyle Youth. He said: “We wanted to develop a project to engage the youth and adults in a joint programme. This project, by using a common interest, photography, has brought those groups together to build mutual respect and foster better community relations.”
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