Police officers in Mid and East Antrim held the first walk and talk event in Ballymena last summer. Inspector Jock McToal led the event after disorder occurred in the town in June. Twenty-five women identified concerns including a path in the Leighinmohr area, trees blocking street lights, derelict properties and activity at a railway bridge on Queen Street.

Police followed up with updates on actions taken. Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt discussed the events at a Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership meeting on 25 February. The initiative forms part of the PSNI Project Vigilant: Safer Streets programme. Thirteen such events have occurred across Northern Ireland with local councils and the Department for Infrastructure.

The walks aim to identify issues like derelict buildings, poor lighting and river paths. Officers seek input from community groups in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne to arrange further events. Project Vigilant focuses on preventing predatory behaviour in night-time areas through targeted operations with plain-clothes and uniformed officers alongside wardens.

Operations target violence against women and girls by spotting suspicious activity and addressing spiking incidents. The Police Service of Northern Ireland uses the approach to build community confidence and lower crime fears in partnership with other agencies.