Anti-social plan snub for Cork

CORK is the only major Irish city to be excluded from a radical policing project designed to combat anti-social behaviour.

Joint Policing Committees — a policing partnership between gardaí and local authorities — have been established in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford Cities under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as part of a trial project.

Committees, which will be made up of local and national politicians, local authority officials and senior gardaí have also been established in Offaly and Wicklow County Councils, Drogheda and Sligo borough councils, Athy, Arklow, Ballinasloe, Birr, Bray, Edenderry, Greystones, Letterkenny, Mallow, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore and Wicklow Town Councils.

However, Labour hit out last night after it emerged that Cork will not be included. Earlier this year, Labour city councillor Ciarán Lynch called on the city council to develop a policy on tackling and tracking anti-social behaviour.

“There is a difference between crime and anti-social behaviour,” he said. “Anti-social behaviour is an issue for every housing estate in the city, but people are getting fed up complaining because nothing ever seems to be done.”

He welcomed the new policing committees.