A SERIES of events began in west Belfast yesterday aimed at helping communities tackle paramilitary control.
The public meetings, which run until February, are part of the Building Capacity in Communities in Transition project.
It is one of 38 initiatives from a Stormont action plan aimed at combatting paramilitarism, criminality and organised crime.
West Belfast is among eight areas in Northern Ireland being targeted in the project, which is being delivered by the Executive Office alongside Cooperation Ireland, Queen's and Ulster universities and the Institute for Conflict Research.
The first sessions were held yesterday at Upper Springfield Development Trust and the Cultúrlann centre.
Further events will be held next Thursday at the Cultúrlann and the West Belfast Partnership Board; on January 29 at Falls Community Council and on February 5 at Sally Gardens Centre.
Peter Sheridan, CEO of Cooperation Ireland, said: "During the first phase of this project we heard different views on how to improve the lives of people living in communities blighted by criminal gangs.
"In this next phase of the project we want to help create the conditions where people with knowledge and experience within these communities can come forward and give their input into the design of submissions that we will make to the Executive Office.
"All sessions are open for those who live, work and volunteer in west Belfast so they can identify the outcomes they want to achieve for their area and to consider the role the community should have in the delivery of practical solutions that will tackle paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime."
