CRIME in Moyle has risen by 35% over the past 12 months, according to new police figures.
During the period April to September 2008 426 incidents were recorded compared to the same period this year when 575 crimes were noted - an increase of 149 crimes in a year!
The concerning news was revealed during a recent District Policing Partners
hip meeting held at Bushmills Community Centre last Thursday.
Addressing the Moyle area's six month District Policing Partnership report, John Magill, Area Commander explained: "In the three months since my last report in June, 300 crimes have been reported in Moyle. The total number of crimes in the period April to September 2009 was 575.
"When compared to the same period last year this represents an increase of 149 crimes, up 35% on last year's figure of 426. The greatest increases have occurred in theft, burglary and criminal damage.
"A lot of these additional crimes occurred in the first quarter of the year when we experienced a spate of caravan breakins in the Ballycastle and Cushendall areas."
However expressing grave concern about the continuing increase in crime, DPP member Michael Molloy hit out stating: "This increase in crime figures is very worrying. The fact that crime has gone up from 426 to 575 in a year concerns me, especially because there are less officers on the beat now.
"This crime level is the highest it has been since 2003/4 when 1,005 incidents were recorded. After that figures went down and officers were taken from us. However in 2007/8 we started to see crime levels rise again and since then they have kept going - but we don't see any officers being given back to us.
"18 months ago crime reduced in Moyle and so to were the number of officers as officials said we didn't need them. But now crime is increasing officials aren't prepared to raise officer numbers - they are not responding to this increase.
"This is obviously resulting in a lack of community confidence, as officers were taken in good faith. How are we to tackle this increasing crime if we don't have the man power to do it?"
Responding Mr Magill continued: "Every month we bid for additional hours saying that we have an increase in crime in Moyle. Sometimes we are successful and other time we aren't.
"Obviously the more police we have in Moyle to more we can do but we also have to be realistic. We will not get more police permanently but we can push for more hours. Everyone has wants but we can't always get what we ask for."
