Ards and North Down Council has contacted PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher to request more police officers for Bangor. The move follows recent disturbances involving groups of youths fighting in High Street and Quay Street.

Councillors unanimously backed a motion from Bangor councillor Jennifer Gilmour at a recent meeting. The motion seeks extra resources for Superintendent Johnston McDowell, the borough's police commander.

Incidents include an attack on K9 Search and Rescue volunteer Ryan Gray and his dog Max, plus vandalism of local businesses by young people. These occurred in recent weeks amid good weather.

The council's director of Active and Healthy Communities, Adele Faulkner, stated that a meeting of the Beaches and Coastal Resource Planning Group took place. Representatives from Translink, PSNI, Community Safety Team, Street Pastors, YMCA, and Neighbourhood Environment Team developed a plan with interventions on transport links ahead of the May Day bank holiday.

Gilmour noted a lack of police resources limits responses to incidents. Former mayor Alistair Cathcart called recent anti-social behaviour unacceptable and linked it to underage drinking in good weather. He called for greater police and multi-agency presence at train stations.

Cathcart praised Street Pastors for assisting vulnerable people and removing alcohol and nitrous oxide bottles. Ulster Unionist councillor Pete Wray, chair of the Policing Community and Safety Partnership, supported more police resources but stressed roles for parents, carers, and school education programmes.

Wray referenced similar issues last year and urged sustained funding over additional meetings. Councillor Wesley Irvine highlighted recurring violence and criticised the closure of Bangor police station to the public. Green Party councillor Lauren Kendall suggested councillors join multi-agency meetings.