Fortified nature of Strabane Police Station and courthouse under review

BOTH the Department of Justice and the PSNI have indicated that security arrangements for facilities in Strabane are being reviewed.

Earlier this year renewed calls were made for the demilitarisation of the town’s police station and courthouse following an announcement that a fortified PSNI station in South Armagh was to be removed. A report had concluded that the station in Crossmaglen would be redeveloped as it constituted “an emblem of the past,” and had “no place in modern policing.”

Locally, this led to an enhanced conversation about the fortified nature of facilities and a motion was subsequently passed at council whereby it would write to the Chief Constable and the Department of Justice concerning the demilitarisation of Strabane’s buildings.

In response to those missives, the Office of the Justice Minister and the PSNI’s Chief Operating Officer outlined their respective plans.

For its part, the PSNI said it was in the final stages of agreeing an “Estate Strategy” which would identify priorities to be completed over the next five years.

“One of the main goals within the strategy is to create more welcoming and accessible facilities across the entire estate, which includes Strabane Police Station,” the Chief Operating Officer wrote to council. “This will involve a range of actions, including the reduction of hardened structures, where possible, to be replaced with a more aesthetic appearance in the street scene. The Estates Team are currently reviewing all station frontages and will, in the coming months be preparing proposals for the redevelopment for implementation in the next two to three years.”

Similarly, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice explained the deployment of physical security infrastructure at venues is undertaken on the basis of security arrangements.

“The next security assessment of Strabane Courthouse will be completed before the end of the calendar year.”

Commenting on these revelations, Strabane Independent councillor Paul Gallagher said both bodies must administer the will of the people.

“I think we’ve got a good opportunity now to say that the town wants rid of these structures,” he remarked. “Both letters say that they’re up for review so the wheels are turning on this.

“The people of the surrounding areas have suffered this for years. Some people can’t look out the back window but there’s someone or some camera looking at them.

“We’ve come through a conflict and it was harsh. But that’s gone now. The fact is, the redevelopment of Strabane town will never be complete until these hard facies are done away with.

“More than that: You’ll not meet one person in Strabane saying, ‘I want these things to stay.’ Both the police and the Department of Justice must administer the will of the people of Strabane.”