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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 4

Community Policing.

I raise this matter to ensure the Government encourages the Garda authorities to increase the number of policing fora, particularly in Dublin, and to look on this as a transitional period as it moves towards a scenario where all districts will have a district policing board similar to that envisaged in the Patten report for the Six Counties. Patten's recommendations set the minimum standard that this State should try to achieve so that policing issues can be dealt with in an accountable and transparent manner. The Garda should be democratically accountable.

I have attended a number of meetings of the Rialto policing forum and I have found them to be useful and enlightening but the problem is the forum has no powers or resources. If such fora are not resourced and are not given specific issues to address and on which they can have an effect, they will not gain the confidence of their communities and will become no more than talking shops. Proper policing fora or boards are required which are democratically accountable and which make decisions on resources, location of Garda stations, the number of gardaí deployed in the area and even the priorities of local policing. Gardaí are more interested in traffic matters than in drug dealing taking place next to them. Such issues are of major concern to communities.

The Garda's policing plan for 2003 states, "The Community Relations Section will continue to support the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 by preparing proposals for a new model for community policing forum and consolidating the best aspects of the forum experience." There have been positive aspects but the fora have not had a major effect on the areas in which they have been operating. Hopefully, they will because the work of the people and the gardaí who have attended the fora is commendable but it is not worth it if there are no results at the end of the day.

Ballyfermot is my area and it has a drug task force. The area suffers from major crime problems, including drug dealing, car theft and so on. Ballyfermot does not have a policing forum but the local Garda inspector is willing to meet all community groups on an ongoing basis. However, there is no statutory basis for such meetings and when the next inspector comes along it might be different. District fora or boards should be put on a statutory footing to stem the loss of confidence and trust in policing that has crept in gradually in certain areas because the Garda has not been resourced properly to respond to emergency and other calls. The Garda must be able to call on resources to tackle crime. Money should not be spent on guarding politicians, traffic duty and so on. The Minister plans pilot programmes to address traffic issues but, hopefully, he will put more effort and time into community policing fora and put them on a statutory footing.

The Deputy stated the Patten report had set minimum standards for the accountability of policing in Northern Ireland. However, while Sinn Féin objects to Nationalists joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Deputy is calling for more community policing fora to be introduced here. I do not understand his logic.

There is a difference in the logic, as the Minister of State will be well aware.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I would like to respond on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The concept of community policing fora has emerged in recent times in a number of different contexts, including, inter alia, local drug task force plans, the RAPID initiative and the Garda's own initiative in Dublin's A district, which includes Rialto and parts of Dublin's south inner city. These fora demonstrate the ongoing commitment of the Garda to working closely with local communities and local authorities in developing policing and estate management strategies.

A prime example of the success to date of this partnership concept is community policing and estate management in Dublin's north inner city, established in 1999 under the first action plan of the local drug task force. This has allowed for the development of a dialogue between the police and local community on drugs issues and has also enabled Dublin City Council to address estate management, such as poor lighting, improved public access or actions to tackle the activities of anti-social tenants.

Since 1999, it has been receiving ongoing financial support from the Government via the local drugs initiative fund and following a positive independent evaluation, Dublin City Council has recently decided to put the project on a permanent basis by including it in its mainstreamed programmes from January next. A similar community policing forum will shortly be established by the Finglas-Cabra local drug task force. This forum, which will be established on a pilot basis for one year, is also receiving financial support from the Government via the drugs initiative.

The Garda has been proactive in Dublin's A district in terms of developing one such forum to help improve relations and communications between local communities, the local authorities and the Garda in that area. The initiative consists of monthly meetings held locally in each forum area, chaired by independent chairpersons and attended by representatives from the different sectors involved, including local community representatives. Once again, active community involvement and support is a key element in the success of this initiative.

Officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform recently met senior Garda management regarding how best this forum might develop and work is ongoing to ensure that the success achieved by the initiative to date is built upon.

With regard to a number of the other issues raised by the Deputy, a new city centre policing initiative was launched on 9 June 2003 by the Assistant Garda Commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan region. This initiative provides a high visibility policing presence in specific target areas in the north and south city centre areas. It targets issues of concern such as public order, assaults, street theft and shoplifting. Another Garda initiative, Operation Boulevard, targets anti-social behaviour in the environs of O'Connell Street.

Specifically in relation to the areas mentioned by the Deputy, the Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that the assistant commissioner of the Dublin metropolitan region directed the implementation of a co-ordinated policing plan for the Rialto and south inner city area to combat anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and other public order related offences. The Minister has been informed by the Garda that the plan, which involves numerous drug related operations and searches, has been very successful to date. It has resulted in arrests for drug related crimes and public order and road traffic offences.

The Minister and I share the Deputy's concern on the issue of car theft. There are many targeted Garda operational measures in areas that have been identified as potential hot spots for so-called joyriding. In addition, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has provided funding for a pilot strategy in north Dublin. The strategy involves developing joint initiatives with local agencies and the community to prevent young people from joyriding; engaging with joyriders, including those in custody; developing alternatives in education, training and leisure; and developing appropriate models of family support.

There is no room for complacency in dealing with these serious issues. Tackling criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, as well as the misery they cause, particularly in communities which experience severe disadvantage, will remain a priority issue for the Government.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 16 October 2003.

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