Garda head to address meeting on crime

THE head of the Garda Inspectorate will preside over the first comprehensive public meeting on crime in Cork on November 8 next.

Kathleen O’Toole, who became Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, has agreed to address the meeting, which will be held in Cork’s County Hall.

It will get under way at 2.30pm and Ms O’Toole, the first police commissioner in Boston, has agreed to listen to the public’s concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour alongside some of the country’s most senior gardaí.

Chief Superintendents Kieran McGann, Michael Finn and Tom Hayes who are, respectively, responsible for Cork North, Cork City and Cork West Garda divisions, will also be in attendance.

Ms O’Toole will give a half-hour presentation on the garda’s view of partnership policing with the public.

This will then be followed by an hour-long submission of statements from the public, which will have to be supplied to the meeting in advance.

The meeting is the brainchild of the County Cork Joint Policing Committee (JPC), which is trying to gel a number of different agencies into crime-prevention policies.

Ms O’Toole and senior garda are expected to respond to a number of submissions from the public and the session will be wound up by an open discussion forum, which will take place between 4.15pm and 4,45pm.

Questions are invited from the public and should be sent to the director of the Cork County Joint Policing Committee, c/o the Community and Enterprise Directorate at Floor 10, County Hall before 5pm on Friday, October 15.

More information on the meeting can be obtained at the website www.cdbcork.co.ie