25 November 2005
Aquinas Grammar School student Matthew Bradley has won first place in a pilot anti-graffiti poster campaign, run by Translink in partnership with Crimestoppers, together with support from the North Down District Policing Partnership.
Pictured from left to right are: Chief Inspector Colin McLean, PSNI, runner up Scott Brackenridge from Bangor Grammar, Trevor Annon, Crimestoppers Chairman, Mayor of North Down, Roberta Dunlop, Philip Blair, Bangor Route Manager, Translink, winner Michael Bradley from Aquinas Grammar School, Hilton Parr, Translink Customer Services Manager, runner up Nichola Patterson from Ashfield Girls School and Brian Kennedy, Crimestoppers.
Hundreds of pupils from schools in the North Down and East Belfast areas submitted their poster designs, with the winning entry being reproduced and used in Translink and Crimestoppers’ new anti-graffiti campaign across North Down.
Competition winner Matthew also collects a new ipod as do runners up Nichola Patterson from Ashfield Girls School and Scott Brackenridge from Bangor Grammar. Five other runners up will receive family travel vouchers courtesy of Translink.
“Together with Crimestoppers and the North Down District Policing Partnership, Translink developed the poster competition in response to an increase in the incidence of graffiti occurring in the area,” explained Hilton Parr Translink Customer Services Manager.
“Safety remains a top priority for Translink, so the importance of communicating safety messages to protect the public and staff from incidents of anti-social behaviour and to ensure the safe use of bus and rail services cannot be over emphasised.
“As part of our campaign to alert young people to the importance of safe behaviour while travelling on public transport or when near buses or trains, we have developed a number of safety initiatives suited to the particular needs of children and young people.
“Following the successful introduction of this pilot project, we will be encouraging our rail managers to adopt this latest initiative, and roll the competition out across the rail network,” Mr Parr said.
Mr Parr went on to remind the public about Translink’s reward scheme, “For those who report information about individuals misusing or abusing property, trespassing or endangering other people, if that information leads to a prosecution, there is a potential windfall of up to £1,000 from the company reward scheme,” Mr Parr concluded.
Trevor Annon, Crimestoppers’ Chairman commented, “Graffiti is unpleasant and unsightly and Translink has suffered badly at the hands of some of these individuals. Ultimately this results in reduced passenger comfort when travelling, not to mention the potential for increased costs.
Crimestoppers is absolutely delighted to partner Translink in this project. We are strongly encouraging anyone who has any information about the identity of those responsible for incidents of criminal damage to call us on 0800 555111. Calls are free and totally anonymous. Even in these very early days the response to Crimestoppers about this problem has been extremely encouraging,” he said.
Ends
For further press information contact Keelin Haughey tel: 028 9039 3837 Mob: 0775 9929250
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