One of the most explosive interfaces in North Belfast has been transformed by a community relations initiative developed following threats to local businesses.
Rioting, vandalism and theft were at one time a daily occurrence at the Cityside retail mall. At its height in 2008 there were 66 nights of sustained violence over a three month period leaving people from both communities and beyond, afraid to access this complex.
The PSNI, North Belfast Community Development & Transition Group, North Belfast Interface Network and Intercomm developed a cross community partnership back in 2008 as a response to address this problem. This was successful and later these groups launched a report, compiled by the Institute of Conflict Research, on the Cityside Initiative.