Derry and Strabane PCSP honoured at national Problem Solving Awards

Derry and Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has been recognised as a winner at the prestigious 2026 Problem Solving Awards, held in partnership between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

The PCSP won the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships category for its innovative Consensual Grant Making Model, which has transformed how communities across the district identify and address local safety priorities.

Accepting the award on behalf of Derry City and Strabane PCSP was its Chair, Alderman Keith Kerrigan. He said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this recognition for the Consensual Grant Making Model. This award belongs to every community group, Local Growth Partnership member, and resident across our district who has embraced this new way of working.

"What makes this particularly special is that it demonstrates the power of trusting communities to lead. By giving our eight Local Growth Partnerships the power to identify local needs and design solutions, we've seen remarkable results – not just in terms of community safety outcomes, but in building stronger relationships between communities and policing across our district.

"This model has been so successful that it's now being rolled out across multiple Council departments, helping to enhance the lives of hundreds of people across Derry and Strabane every day. This award is a testament to what can be achieved when we work in genuine partnership with our communities."

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The Consensual Grant Making Model represents a fundamental shift from traditional competitive grant processes to a partnership-led, community-focused approach. Through Local Growth Partnerships across the district's seven District Electoral Areas and Strabane town, funding decisions for PCSP programmes are now co-designed with community stakeholders, ensuring local needs shape priorities.

The model has empowered previously excluded grassroots organisations in areas across the City and District to deliver youth diversionary activities, substance misuse education, and community safety initiatives tailored to their specific needs.

Significantly, the approach has enabled PSNI officers to be invited into interface areas and communities with historically tense relationships with policing, fundamentally shifting dynamics from external enforcement to collaborative partnership.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I was delighted to attend this year's Problem Solving Awards, and to see first-hand the fantastic work taking place across the organisation and throughout Northern Ireland.

"These awards, delivered once again in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Policing Board, highlight the power of collaboration in developing innovative solutions that make our communities safer, and ultimately improving well-being and public confidence.

"They are a true celebration of our officers, staff and partners whose creative, evidence-based approaches have made a real difference to people and communities across Northern Ireland."

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: "Congratulations to all the winners and the nominees for their outstanding efforts working together for fairness, justice and safety. All the projects are making a real difference to people who experience anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, vandalism and crime.

"I've been so impressed with the creativity and enthusiasm of local and specialist policing teams keen to confront challenging problems and deliver for victims of crime. They exemplify the very best in policing and the true power of genuine partnership and dedicated public service."

Northern Ireland Policing Board Chair Mukesh Sharma said: "It is so important to highlight the exceptional work across Northern Ireland and projects that without a doubt have changed and have had enormous impacts on people's lives.

"By working with communities and partner agencies to address and resolve problems, these projects are making a real difference. Problem solving together in partnership is the best way to achieve long-term results."

The 2026 Problem Solving Awards recognised outstanding examples of innovation, collaboration and community-focused policing across categories including Delivering for Communities, Enhancing Service Delivery, Policing and Community Safety Partnerships, Innovation, Serious Crime, and Partners.