Paul Frew leads DUP delegation in meeting with Ballymena Neighbourhood Policing Team

DUP MLA Paul Frew with party colleagues at Ballymena Police Station.

DUP MLA Paul Frew has led a delegation of local party councillors in a meeting with the Ballymena District neighbourhood policing team to address mounting concerns over public safety, community tensions, and recent incidents of violence across the area.

The meeting, which brought together political representatives and frontline police officers, was held in response to heightened anxieties within the community.

Mr Frew, MLA for North Antrim, described the session as “very productive” and expressed appreciation for the time and transparency shown by the local policing team.

“We had a very productive meeting with the local neighbourhood policing team; I thank them all for the engagement and the opportunity to meet with the whole team when we know how busy they are,” he said.

Central to the discussion was the impact of recent violent incidents in Ballymena and how these have affected neighbourhood policing and community trust. Mr Frew acknowledged that these developments have created complex challenges for both police and local residents.

“The meeting was dominated by the recent violence in Ballymena and how that has impacted on community relations and ordinary neighbourhood policing. We discussed the challenges now presented both in policing and society and potential solutions to help repair damage to relations and society.”

The DUP delegation also addressed deeper societal concerns, including issues surrounding immigration and integration in parts of the district.

Mr Frew pointed to the importance of coordinated, multi-agency support to ease tensions and support communities under pressure from demographic change.

“We discussed the societal challenges with immigration in concentrated areas and host communities and how we need dedicated multi agency support in all the areas impacted by it. We discussed census figures and how challenging change can be.”

Anti-social behaviour in local villages was another key area of focus, as well as the need to restore confidence in crime reporting among residents. Mr Frew highlighted the vital role of community-police cooperation in ensuring neighbourhoods remain safe.

“Other topics of discussion was anti-social behaviour in our villages and building confidence in members of the community reporting crime to the police or crime stoppers.”

He added that the DUP remains committed to supporting the work of local police teams and fostering safer environments across the Ballymena district.

“We are committed to working and engaging with the local neighbourhood police team to ensure that the community feel safe and confident.”