Police flood Holyland in crackdown bid
POLICE Land Rovers and officers in riot gear flooded a student area of south Belfast last night in a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.
The Holyland area has become notorious in recent years for anti-social behaviour, particularly around St Patrick’s Day.
After 9pm pictures appeared on social media showing multiple PSNI Land Rovers patrolling just off the Ormeau Road.
The Belfast Telegraph arrived at the scene around 9.30pm to find one student sweeping up a broken glass table on the road as three police vehicles drove by.
The student, who did not want to be named, was clearing the glass shards away.
“I just found this — I think a glass table was smashed in the middle of the street but I didn’t see it,” he explained. “I saw crowds of people up at the top of the street; to be honest I didn’t see any real trouble going on, it was just noise complaints.
“It is bad tonight compared to what I would usually see. I’ve never seen the likes of this before.” Along the street small crowds gathered outside houses, and there was plenty of empty bottles and litter along the street.
A second male student who asked not to be named complained the police response was overkill. “Everyone was in their houses and after a while the police vans came, it seemed like intimidation,” he said.
“It actually got people out of their houses to see what was going on. If the police didn’t come everyone would still be inside. There was no need for 12 Land Rovers and police with riot gear.
“People are just having a sociable drink.”
Another female student added: “There was no problem at all then four police Land Rovers came in a row. Everyone was outside enjoying their time with their friends, there’s such a stigma attached to being a student in the Holyland. It’s because we’re young and they want to destroy good fun.”
Ray Farley of the Holyland Regeneration Association said the police presence was a bid to “crackdown” on any potential disturbances before it kicks off.
He said: “The police had said they were going to try and make a presence so that if anything did kick off to try and nip it in the bud, although it hadn’t been scheduled to start this early.
“But if they are sitting ready and waiting it’s better to be there.
“It’s to set the agenda that we aren’t going to let people get away with this sort of behaviour.
“It does happen all the time, it’s not just St Patrick’s Day and it was a reasonable day today weather wise — so that’s possibly what happened and it spills on.”