§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what priority the RUC places on dealing with disputes between neighbours; what resources it has in place in North Down to counteract this problem; and what discrete statistics it maintains to monitor the scale and growth of such disputes. [74]
§ Sir John WheelerThe primary duty of a police officer is to serve the whole community and protect its citizens from all unlawful and harmful acts, from whatever source. The RUC places a high priority on investigating all breaches of the law, including disputes between neighbours.
Disputes between neighbours in the North Down area are given the same priority as elsewhere in the Province. Disputes of this kind are considered within the role of normal police duty and the police liaise with relevant agencies such as Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Department of the Environment or North Down Borough Council if the dispute relates to dogs or noise.
No discrete statistics are held relating to such disputes.