Adams praises community watch group
BY NED KELLY
West Belfast Sinn Féin MP Gerry Adams has praised the, ``selflessness and
dedication'', of a West Belfast community neighbourhood watch group, ``whose
presence, and quick thinking, almost certainly saved lives'' in the loyalist
attack on two Falls Road bars last weekend.
But the Sinn Féin President also accused the RUC of ``indulging in a
systematic campaign against local citizens from the recently established
neighbourhood watch scheme in the greater St. James's area''.
Residents from the St. James's, Rock Street, La Salle and Clondara Street
areas in West Belfast are demanding to know why the RUC are subjecting them
to a campaign of harassment and intimidation when their work is aimed at
trying to put an end to the anti-social behaviour in the area. Adams,
commending the work of the community initiatives, said: ``While the schemes
do not pretend to be a policing service, they are admirable efforts in
trying to make their communities safer places, they are holding out the
hand of friendship and help to those who wish to turn away from anti-social
behaviour.''
In recent weeks members of the St. James's community initiative have been
stopped, questioned and photographed by the RUC. It has emerged that at
least three young people have been approached by the RUC and are being
pressurised to act as informers.
Calling on more people to come out and support the new group, Pat O'Rawe,
whose shop was recently broken into with £600-worth of goods damaged but
nothing stolen, emphasised that their aim was to provide a presence on the
streets and discourage anti-social behaviour.
One group member told An Phoblacht that their presence on the streets was
already having a significant impact on the problems of car theft, house
burglaries, shop break-ins and drug dealing and use in the area.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)