People are being urged to play their part in helping to make their community safer by filling in and returning a survey on policing.

The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, Barry Gilligan, (who is pictured, left) has urged everyone who receives the Board's biggest survey to date - the 2010 District Policing Partnership (DPP) Public Consultation Survey, which will drop through 74,000 letterboxes this week – to return it by the March deadline.

"One in 10 households across Northern Ireland will receive the questionnaire which is designed to find out community views on a range of issues relating to the delivery of policing in each DPP area.

"Policing with the Community is a priority for the Board and for the first time the survey will give local people the opportunity to have a say in how policing is being delivered at a neighbourhood level," Mr Gilligan explained.

"The results of this survey, along with other consultation exercises, help DPPs establish local policing priorities with PSNI Area Commanders.

"The information gathered in this survey informs local public opinion on local police performance and also the DPPs."

The Chairman continued: "Throughout the year DPPs consult the community in many different ways but due to its size this survey is conducted every two years.

"In addition to the findings of the Board's 21 'Core Questions', more localised questions generated by DPPs are also included which, along with other consultation methods, will be used to ensure Local Policing Plans are developed to address community issues and help make communities safer," he said.

This survey is the only Northern Ireland-wide public attitudes survey undertaken by the Board that can be broken down by District Council level and PSNI Area Command Unit.

The survey findings will be made available to DPPs at the end of June 2010 and published by the Board during summer 2010.

"DPPs are the forum for communities to have a say on how their local area is being policed; and to help ensure communities get the kind of policing service they need," he said.

"The Board urges everyone who receives the questionnaire to be part of the process, to fill it in and return it by the 12 March."

PSNI, Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr commented: "This survey is invaluable to the PSNI and will play a huge part in influencing the service we provide to communities.

"We want to hear the views of communities on the policing service in their area. This information, fed back to us through District Policing Partnerships and the Board, will help ensure the policing service in each area meets the individual community needs.

"We are listening; we will continue to do so. We want to provide a personal, protective and professional service to all the people of Northern Ireland. With the help, views and feedback from the public, we can deliver that."

(BMcC/GK)