TIME has been called on a police Facebook post regarding licensed premises.
Ballymoney Ulster Unionist Councillor Darryl Wilson contacted the PSNI in relation to a social media post published on the official Police Causeway Coast & Glens Facebook page on Saturday.
He raised concerns that the post by the PSNI could be ‘misconstrued’ by the public and business owners.
The text based post with an image attached on Saturday afternoon showed an officer at the door of a pub in the Ballymoney area.
The post said ‘police were conducting license premises checks in accordance with current health regulations’.
Within minutes of being published there was a vast number of comments from locals with concerns that the PSNI picture – which included the name of the premises – could be open to misinterpretation.
Speaking to Causeway Coast Community, Councillor Wilson said: “Thankfully after a short dialogue with the PSNI they agreed to remove the post.
“Relations between sections of the local community and the PSNI have been strained as of late due to pandemic restrictions and other factors.
“I will be continuing dialogue with the PSNI to look for opportunities to rebuild confidence in policing and the relationship between the PSNI and local communities.”
In a statement to Causeway Coast Community, a police spokesperson said “A decision was taken yesterday to remove a post from the Causeway Coast & Glens Facebook page, which included photographs, in relation to licensed premises checks in Ballymoney after a complaint was received.
“In this instance, the post was not representative of the range of duties conducted by officers in regards to licensed premises checks in the area.”
The spokesperson further confirmed that all officers who publish on official social media pages are digitally trained.
