Public urged to speak out in community policing forum

THE public has been urged to attend a meeting tonight that will give them a greater say on policing in their area.

Underage drinking will be among the first items tackled by the Cork City North Joint Policing sub-committee which meets for the first time tonight.

It is one of three such committees set up in Cork under the provisions of

the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and one of only a handful set up around the country under the Department of Justice and the Department of the Environment’s joint policing process. The committees will discuss the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, including the patterns and levels of alcohol and drug abuse in their respective areas.

And the factors underlying and contributing to the levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour will also be discussed.

The Cork committees are made up of senior gardaí and city officials, local city councillors, TDs, senators, representatives of the community and from the voluntary sector.

However, the public has been urged to attend tonight’s meeting to have their voices heard. It takes place at the Clarion Hotel from 7.30pm.

The Cork Central District Forum, which is made up of mostly business groups like the Cork Chamber and Cork Business Association, and the Cork City South sub-committee meetings will take place on April 28 and May 1 respectively.

Existing local groups like neighbourhood watch groups and residents associations will feed information into the relevant sub-committees. A spokesperson said promoting a partnership approach to policing is central to the project.

Joint policing committees have been established in Fingal, Offaly and Wicklow county councils, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford city councils, Drogheda and Sligo borough councils, Athy, Arklow, Ballinasloe, Birr, Bray, Edenderry, Greystones, Letterkenny, Mallow, Tralee, Tuam, Tullamore and Wicklow town councils.

Committees have also been established in Kerry and South Dublin, Wicklow county councils, Clonmel Borough Council, and Cavan, Carrick-on-Suir and New Ross town councils.