Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) held a special meeting this week with the chiefs of the two health trusts in its area providing updates on anti-social behaviour on site.<\/p>\n
There were 22 reports of drug dealing at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast between January and August last year, compared to five the previous year.<\/p>\n
The emergency department has been particularly affected, with drug dealing and taking on the premises rife, dirty needles in the toilets and baby changing rooms, and staff subjected to abusive and violent behaviour.<\/p>\n
Deputy Mayor Ryan Carlin (SF) chaired the meeting and alluded to a previous question raised by DUP councillor Jonathan Craig.<\/p>\n
The Lisburn North councillor had previously asked the Trusts: \u201cWith regards to the drug dealing, there is CCTV within the facility, so I\u2019ll ask an obvious question, how closely do you work with the likes of the PSNI around that? And how many prosecutions have been made.\u201d<\/p>\n
The chamber was told by Belfast Trust at that time, last October, that sniffer dogs were being used by the PSNI to catch drug dealers in Emergency Departments (ED) with the illegal activity also said to be taking place throughout the hospital site \u201cat any time\u201d.<\/p>\n
Councillors also heard moves were being made for staff to have body worn cameras to record illegal incidents.<\/p>\n
Nineteen arrests were made in the first half of 2024 for drugs activity.<\/p>\n
The Trust chiefs present in chamber had been due to respond on a live stream broadcast from Lagan Valley Island, but due to a technical problem the public stream and councillors\u2019 online link was lost for around two minutes.<\/p>\n
However, in a recording of the meeting made available later, South Eastern Trust director of planning, performance and informatics, Helen Moore said: \u201cIn relation to drug misuse, I have asked, the Trust is not specifically aware of any issues relating to drug activity within our sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do, however, just generally for good practice have Trust security staff that operate on the Lagan Valley and Ulster site 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have been there for a number of years. That\u2019s is not a consequence of any question to do with drug dealing, it is just generally good practice around the area and we do have patrols around the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have an excellent working relationship with the local neighbourhood policing teams who keep them appraised of prevention and detection of crime in the area and we do take cognisance for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that time the chamber recording shows the Deputy Mayor acknowledged the online links had \u201ccrashed\u201d and the meeting was paused.<\/p>\n
There was no response from the Belfast Trust and the lost live response from the South Eastern Trust was not repeated when the online system began broadcasting.<\/p>\n
Contacted for further comment, the Belfast Trust stated drug dealing was a growing concern and the South Eastern Trust confirming \u201cdrug related activity\u201d on its sites.<\/p>\n
A Belfast Trust spokesperson admitted the problem was getting worse.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelfast Trust are concerned about an increase in antisocial behaviour including drug usage and drug dealing on the Royal Hospital\u2019s site,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working closely with PSNI colleagues and local community representatives to address this worrying trend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would ask everyone to please be respectful of your hospitals and community sites to help keep them safe places for your family and friends to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n
The South Eastern Trust replied: \u201dThe Trust continues to record very low levels of drug related activity across all our sites. If any activity is reported, we liaise closely with the PSNI.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with our zero tolerance approach, staff are actively encouraged to report such issues, if they occur.\u201d<\/p>\n
The PSNI said drug and substance misuse and dealing continues to be a policing priority in west Belfast.<\/p>\n
Chief Inspector Claire Hamilton said: \u201cThe Police Service of Northern Ireland will continue to use high visibility, targeted patrols and at times have utilised police dogs who are specially trained to detect drugs, to disrupt and arrest those involved in the sale and supply of drugs, and put them before the courts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to work with communities and partner agencies to reduce the threat of harmful and illegal activity. We are asking everyone for their support and co-operation in tackling this problem through the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also working closely with partners and relevant key stakeholders to come up with more innovative long term solutions, to help build safer communities and to protect vulnerable people with an aim to support recovery, resettlement and social inclusion for those in need of support.<\/p>\n