PSNI Connect to launch across Belfast and Northern Ireland
A new Police Service of Northern Ireland community engagement service is to be rolled out across Belfast and every policing district in Northern Ireland from Thursday.
PSNI Connect will allow members of the public to receive updates from neighbourhood police officers, raise concerns about issues affecting their area and provide feedback on local policing priorities.
The Northern Ireland-wide launch on October 1 follows an initial rollout in Lisburn and Castlereagh and Newry, Mourne and Down earlier this year.
Local police updates and appeals
People who register for PSNI Connect will be able to choose the types of information they want to receive.
This can include crime prevention advice, appeals for information, details of local events and updates about work being carried out by neighbourhood policing teams.
Users will also be able to take part in surveys about issues affecting their communities and provide feedback to police.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the service would provide people with direct contact with neighbourhood officers working in areas where they live, work or regularly visit.
He said PSNI Connect would give communities a greater voice in what happens locally.
Around 1,500 already signed up
The service was initially introduced in Lisburn and Castlereagh and Newry, Mourne and Down at the end of June.
PSNI Superintendent Joanne Gibson said around 1,500 people have signed up across the two districts so far.
The wider rollout was announced following an event in Antrim attended by around 120 stakeholders from organisations including policing and community safety partnerships and representatives from the education, housing and sports sectors.
The platform has been funded through the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime.
Service cannot be used to report crime
Police have stressed that PSNI Connect is not a replacement for existing crime-reporting services.
Crimes and incidents should continue to be reported through the PSNI website or by calling 101, while emergencies should be reported using 999.
Registration for PSNI Connect is free, and you can sign up here.