Policing body members to get security cameras

Security cameras are to be installed at the homes of members of a local policing body in Northern Ireland following a series of threats and attacks by dissident republicans, it was revealed today.

The 15 members of the Strabane District Policing Partnership – eight drawn locally from the political parties and seven independents – are being given the extra security after bearing the brunt of the dissident campaign.

A female member of the DPP, Mary McCrea, was targeted on Sunday when her son’s car was set alight outside their home in the Co Tyrone town.

It was the second attack on her in recent weeks. In the previous targeting a hoax bomb was left outside the house.

A fellow member of the Strabane policing body, Sean Crawford, believes he was the target of another attack when a hoax device was found under a next door neighbour’s car on Monday.

Like other members of the DPP in Strabane both are determined not to be cowed by the campaign of intimidation – blamed by police on the dissident Real IRA - and say they will not quit.

However, three members have already resigned from other DPPs across the North because of the campaign.

District Policing Partnerships were set up earlier this year as part of the reforms of policing in Northern Ireland set in motion by former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten.

The DPPs are made up of local councillors and independent members of the community who work alongside the Police Service in Northern Ireland’s 29 District Police Command Units.

The intention is that they have an input into the provision of local policing needs in their area.

The Northern Ireland Office is funding the security measures at the homes of the Strabane members, but a spokesman would make no comment today about the move.

“We don’t comment about matters of personal security,” said the spokesman.