Pilot policing plan for communities

COMMUNITIES are to get a greater say in the policing of their areas under a new scheme being finalised by the Department of Justice.

Department officials yesterday briefed the cross-party Oireachtas Justice Committee on the proposals for joint policing committees.

Each committee will comprise gardaí, members of the community and their elected representatives.

They will be established initially in 22 local authority areas on a pilot basis, the plan being to eventually extend the committees to all 114 local authorities in the State.

Outlining the draft guidelines for the committees, senior department official Michael Flahive said it was more desirable to start the scheme on a pilot basis.

“The committees represent a radical new departure in the relationship between the Garda Siochána, local communities and their elected representatives,” he said.

“It would therefore be better to gather experience from the operation of a limited number of committees ... and then make any changes which appear desirable in the light of that experience.”

Once the guidelines were finalised, it was Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s intention to establish the committees “as soon as possible”, Mr Flahive said.

“The pilot period will be limited — the minister has in mind a period of about one year, to mid-2007. That will be followed by a speedy and focused evaluation, as a result of which any changes which appear necessary will be made to the guidelines and committees will be established in all local authority areas,” he added.

The pilot committees will be established for the Fingal, Offaly and Wicklow county councils; Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford city councils; Drogheda and Sligo borough councils; and Athy, Arklow, Ballinasloe, Birr, Bray, Edenderry, Greystones, Letterkenny, Mallow, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore and Wicklow town councils.

Mr Flahive said the committees would have four main functions.

Firstly, each committee will keep under review the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area, as well as the underlying factors contributing to such problems.

Secondly, the committee will advise gardaí and local authorities on how they might best perform their functions, “having regard to the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour”.

Thirdly, the committee will arrange public meetings on local policing issues.

Finally, the committee will establish, in consultation with the local garda superintendent, local policing forums to discuss and make recommendations to the committee on matters affecting their neighbourhood.