Hi °C | Lo °C Good news for thugs, hoods and vandals, with the revelation the Policing Board is thinking of closing a third of all PSNI stations over the next three or so years.
It is considering reducing the number of stations from 82 to 47. And selling off the valuable real estate, of course.
Quite frankly, I don't care what various concocted government-backed figures are produced to show that it's all OK - policing here is a joke.
Even before the latest speculation, town after town has been stripped of its police station. Instead local bobbies - the long arm of the law - pay the odd community visit with the same frequency as the Book People van. Indeed for many in Northern Ireland, their "local" station is about as local as Timbucktoo. Your only hope is that the person who's just broken into your house attacks you in slow motion.
I am sure the local yahoos know exactly how long it will take the cops to arrive and tailor their criminality appropriately.
Plus, like the post office, the local police station is part of community life. Take it away and a big part of the area's soul goes missing.
As the debate hots up, we will hear a lot of dubious chat about "normal" levels of policing and "efficient deployment of limited resources" blah blah blah. But what makes you feel safer - a big burly peeler with a big burly stick, or a wee leaflet on crime prevention and a hotline to a clerical officer 20 miles away?
