Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
46 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to establish a joint policing committee community fora in areas outside the 14 local drugs task force areas; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31232/11]
View answerThe functions and powers of joint policing committees, JPCs, are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for a committee in each local authority area. The Act provides that JPCs operate under guidelines issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The current guidelines were issued in September 2008.
The Act also provides for the establishment of local policing fora at neighbourhood level under guidelines. These fora are intended to operate in a more informal way than the JPCs and deepen the engagement between gardaí, the local authority and neighbourhood communities. Guidelines for the establishment and operation of fora were issued by the then Minister in July 2009, following consultation with the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and other stakeholders. These guidelines restrict the establishment of fora to the 14 areas where local drug task forces operate. It was decided to prioritise the establishment of local policing fora in these areas, in the context of the resources available and in accordance with the national drugs strategy, because their need is greatest. This process is currently under way.
With regard to the JPCs generally, I am aware that some are working better than others, depending on the local authority. As I have already informed the House, I intend shortly to communicate with local authorities to get an overview of how the JPCs are operating and the extent to which their activities are constructive and beneficial to the community and the Garda. My Department, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and An Garda Síochána have commenced work on reviewing the operation of the committees. My intention is that a document will be prepared on the basis of which consultations will take place with the local authorities on how the operation of the committees might be improved, with a view to updating the guidelines. I envisage that this process will be substantially complete in the early part of next year. The role and extent of local policing fora will be examined as part of this process.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He touched on one of the critical issues, that some of the joint policing committees are working better than others. I welcome the timeline outlined for the review process. I am aware from experience that it works very well in Cork. However, that is due not to the guidelines but to the individuals who sit on the committee, including members of the Garda who are open to the idea. In other areas where I have discussed the issue with councillors there is not the buy-in from some elements, not just the Garda. but the community and local authorities. That is one area on which we need to tighten up. In Cork, where the system works well and the Garda buy in to the process, it is having an effect on the ground and improves confidence in the Garda. If that could be replicated across the State we would be doing well. That is an area where we need to look at the guidelines.
I agree with what the Deputy has said. It is my experience, having sat briefly on one of these committees, that it depends on the Garda and the councillors. The councillors may have choices in the context of how these committees work. They can constructively engage with the Garda and come forward with suggestions in regard to policing in local communities that are generally beneficial and, on the Garda side, if there is openness they will engage. Alternatively, councillors can just use the committees to table a motion or a question to get a written reply, not engage particularly, and send the reply out to their constituents.
The first type of engagement, where there is a dialogue between councillors representing local communities and the local gardaí working on the ground and where there is a degree of openness between the two in problem solving, is most valuable. I hope the review being conducted will provide a greater insight into this and might assist the workings of the committees, where there is a perception that some are not working particularly well, and will feed into the need for any changes that may be made to the guidelines.
Does that include giving additional powers, if necessary, to the committees? In the North there is greater participation in regard to the operational process. While the committees are good, additional powers are needed to make them more effective in some areas. Will that review contain recommendations and, if so, is that something on which the Minister is willing to act?
As the Deputy is aware, the functions and powers of joint policing committees are set out in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. In the context of the review it would be interesting to get an insight across the country as to the extent to which the provisions contained in that Act are being utilised and applied and whether some committees are more constrained than others. Should the review show that some beneficial changes could be made to the legislation, I am open to looking at that issue. Given the Deputy's knowledge, he is welcome to feed into the process. I would hope, when the review is complete, to publish it and to discuss it in the House or in the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality before conclusions are reached from what is learned through the review.
