Stop it Now! Northern Ireland

For more information about the project contact project co-ordinator Sinéad Hegarty

The latest update on what's happening with the Stop it Now! campaign in Northern Ireland

Stop it Now! (NI) has progressed into a very active second year. We are moving into working with Community Safety Partnerships.

What is a Community Safety Partnership?
It is a partnership approach to preventing, reducing and containing the social, environmental and intimidatory factors, which affect people's right to live without fear of crime and which impact upon their quality of life. It includes preventative measures that contribute to crime reduction.

A wide variety of statutory, voluntary and community organisations meet to identify and address local priorities.

How does Stop it Now! (NI) fit into the Community Safety Strategy?
A key community safety priority is to address fear of crime amongst older people, vulnerable adults, victims and children.

The Stop it Now! (NI) campaign aims to address fear of child sexual abuse by raising awareness about child sexual abuse and by encouraging us all to understand what steps we can take to protect children.

How will the Stop it Now! (NI) campaign be delivered?
The campaign will be three-pronged and will consist of:

Local advertising of Stop it Now! on billboards and buses
Distribution of informational material throughout public buildings
Workshops for Community Groups and relevant professionals who want to learn how to prevent child sexual abuse within their communities.

Which Community Safety Partnership areas are involved?
Strabane - August 2006 - October 2006
Moyle - September 2006 - November 2006
Ballymoney - September 2006 - November 2006
Newtownabbey & Carrickfergus - October - December 2006

If you would like more information about the campaigns or if you would be interested in participating on the workshops please contact the co-ordinator, Brenda Horgan directly bhorgan@nspcc.org.uk

What else is happening?
The Government has published a wide ranging consultation paper on reforming the law on sexual offences. The aim is to provide modern robust legislation for Northern Ireland. David Hanson said " our aim in reforming the law is ultimately to provide the public with the maximun protction from this type of particularlt traumatic crime, and to make it easier to prosecute and convict the guilty"
In order to view and consult on this document visit the Northern Ireland Office web site www.nio.gov.uk