asked the Minister for Justice when he will set up community consultative councils to advise the Garda Síochána on the needs of the community and to co-ordinate local bodies in overcoming crime and vandalism.
Written Answers. - Community Involvement in Crime Prevention.
101.
The matters referred to in the question are being examined by my Department in consultation with the Garda authorities. The Garda Síochána believe, and I share their belief, that the way forward in terms of good policing is through community involvement. The Garda authorities have been advancing this concept through their crime prevention advisory service which offers advice to the public on crime prevention and by promoting the highly successful neighbourhood watch schemes. The concept is also being very successfully applied by way of the neighbourhood policing scheme. This scheme is designed specifically to service the needs of the community, by making the gardaí available in a particular locality at hours of greatest public activity and by providing a very accessible and open communication channel between the Garda and the community. I am pleased to say that I announced yesterday a substantial extension of the neighbourhood policing scheme throughout the Dublin area.