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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Nov 1996

Vol. 471 No. 8

Other Questions. - Community Policing Service.

Chris Flood

Question:

4 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to expand the community policing service; and the areas in the country she intends prioritising in the context of such a community service. [21779/96]

The deployment of the Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the Garda authorities.

In the context of community policing in urban areas, the first community garda was appointed in the Loughlinstown-Ballybrack area of south County Dublin in November 1987 and there has been a gradual expansion of the scheme since then. There are at present 220 gardaí and 26 sergeants attached to neighbourhood policing units. The number of neighbourhood gardaí employed in each division is at the discretion of local management within the Garda Síochána and, of course, they must always be allowed the flexibility to make the best use of resources available to deal with priority demands.

There are currently 2,187 neighbourhood watch schemes which operate in urban areas, and these schemes encompass 354,500 households.

The Garda authorities consider that the community policing scheme in urban areas has proved to be a very successful way of putting gardaí in closer touch with the community they serve and of providing a more visible Garda presence locally. Besides operating in the Dublin Metropolitan area the scheme has been further expanded to include other major centres such as Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Dundalk and Mullingar. The scheme of rural community policing was introduced in June, 1982 on a pilot basis in the districts of Thomastown, County Kilkenny and Claremorris, County Mayo.

In 1989, following a review of the scheme by Garda management and officials of my Department, it was recommended that the initiative be extended and, in September, 1991 the scheme was extended to a further 12 districts.

The Garda Commissioner, following a further review in June, 1994, submitted a report to my Department outlining proposals for a further extension of the scheme. These proposals are still the subject of discussions between my Department and the Garda authorities. While I expect these discussions to be concluded in the near future it is, of course, vital that all aspects of such proposals are carefully examined and reviewed in the context of current demands being placed on the Garda Síochána. I am particularly anxious to ensure that there will be sufficient consultation with local interest groups before any decision is made to extend the scheme.

While thanking the Minister for her detailed reply will she agree that there is an alarming gulf between some communities and the Garda? Does she agree that the development and resourcing of the community policing initiative would be a compelling way in which we might bring together members of the Garda Síochána and communities? This is of crucial importance and would help to dispel the level of distrust which has, sadly and unfortunately, developed between the Garda and communities in certain areas they are intended to serve? Will the Minister take cognisance of the points made and ensure that the Garda Commissioner is made fully aware of the feelings of this House on this very important matter?

I will. I agree with the importance of ensuring a gulf does not develop between the Garda and communities. In addition to community police, many gardaí are trained on how to deal with the youth in their areas. This work is part and parcel of the work not only of community police but of gardaí in general. This contact is achieved through structured and formal visits to schools under the schools programme and informal contacts through sporting organisations such as the GAA and soccer, tennis and badminton clubs, in which many gardaí are actively involved.

More than 1,000 gardaí have been trained in the Garda school programme which operates in approximately 2,800 schools and has recently been extended to cover gaelscoileanna. The aim of the programme is to help children, with the support of their teachers, to develop behaviour which will keep them safe from accidents and crime. The Garda Commissioner maintains this is a very important part of the work of the Garda Síochána and creates a positive image of the force among younger children who might be given a different impression of it by their older siblings. The programme is vital in helping to divert young people away from crime. This is not easy work — it requires much time, energy and commitment — and the gardaí involved are doing an excellent job. The availability of resources at local level should ensure that community police carry out the job for which they are trained.

Will the Minister agree that community police play a very important role in the fight against drug abuse and that it would be advisable to mandate them to visit schools on a regular basis to educate young people on the dangers of drugs?

Gardaí are allowed to visit any school which requests them to do so. Very often gardaí indicate to the principal of a school that they would like to talk to pupils. Members of the Garda working in the drugs area also visit schools and address public meetings and parents' groups. The programme operates in 2,800 primary and second level schools and has been extended recently to cover gaelscoileanna. It is vital that the Minister for Education's programme on the dangers of drugs is extended to cover primary schools.

Will the Minister encourage the setting up of a more formal local inter-agency structure, representative of the local community, the Garda and other relevant agencies, in areas with serious crime and drugs problems? This would be a valuable further step in ensuring more effective community policing and give local communities a greater role in policing their areas.

I would certainly favour such a development. The Garda are involved in the 2,187 neighbourhood watch schemes, some of which are more active than others. I will encourage gardaí to get to know their communities, to be more active and to attend meetings. However, this is already the case in most areas.

The group chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, recommended the setting up of 11 drug strategy teams, ten of which will be located in Dublin. The Government is in the process of setting up these teams which will include representatives of the Garda, the health board, the probation and welfare service and the local community. These teams will bring together community leaders and the institutions working in their areas.

The Minister said ten of these teams will be located in Dublin. Where will the other team be based?

It has been recommended that it be based in Cork. The group concluded from the submissions it received that these were the areas where the problem was most serious. There will also be regional drug strategy teams, regional committees, which will be representative of the same groupings, for example the Garda and health boards. The smaller local strategy teams will cover an area of 1,000 houses or less so that they can get to grips with drug treatment, crime and drug education.

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