MR GERRY ADAMS has defended the rights of communities to combat juvenile crime and delinquency through community patrols.
Referring to the community night patrols in nationalist Twinbrook and Poleglass aimed at tackling car thefts and other juvenile delinquency, the Sinn Fein president said that in the face of escalating antisocial behaviour local people had a right to defend themselves.
At the Sinn Fein organised conference in Twinbrook yesterday he added that he was opposed to "punishment" beatings. "I don't think battering young people is any solution. It never was, and it isn't now," he said.
Representatives from various official agencies, such as the probation service and the Making Belfast Work body, attended yesterday's conference. Mr Adams urged a co ordinated plan to tackle the problem involving the communities, young people, and voluntary and statutory agencies.
He said the response of local communities to car thieves and other antisocial behaviour "in the absence of a proper policing service is to take to the streets and challenge this problem head on".
"I support the right of local communities to defend themselves. I am not against community imposed sanctions but I am opposed to so called punishment beatings. Community responses need to be thought out fully, they must be measured and sustainable," Mr Adams added.
The conference, attended by about 150 people in Twinbrook, heard support for the local method of crime prevention described as a "neighbourhood watch scheme", although opponents have described it as vigilantism.
The conference also heard cautious complaints from some young people that the community patrols were heavy handed and aggressive against innocent teenagers just trying to enjoy themselves.
There was no suggestion at the conference that the RUC should be to the forefront in tackling the issue. It was generally accepted the police were unacceptable in Twinbrook and Poleglass.
Ms Deirdre Johnston, a mother of five children aged seven to 17 defended the night patrols. "I could no longer watch the community I live in being destroyed in front of my eyes," she said.
She said over a four month period from October to January almost 600 cars were stolen from various parts of Belfast and Lisburn for "joyriding" purposes in her area. About 200 of them were burned. She told of local houses and other property being vandalised by young "hoods".
"When I took to the streets I was sending a message that I would no longer tolerate such behaviour. I wanted to reclaim our community spirit and self respect," she said. Since the patrols the level of "joyriding" and general crime has dropped dramatically, she said.
Local people had a right and a responsibility to defend themselves in the absence of an acceptable police force. Ms Johnston denied "curfews" were placed on young people or that young people were beaten by any of those involved in the community patrol.
But Ms Michelle Martin, young community activist guardedly complained of a heavy handedness from some of the local people policing the area. Those involved in the neighbourhood watch scheme deserved thanks and congratulations for their work but some also had been involved in "battering" young people.
There should be a realisation that Poleglass and Twinbrook lacked proper facilities for young people, and this was also an important matter which must be tackled by all concerned.
