Vol. 452 No. 7
8 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the reason gardaí allocated to community policing are being taken off the beat and given other duties to the detriment of crime prevention in many local communities; when these gardaí are likely to be returned to fulltime community policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8489/95]
10 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Justice the reason gardaí allocated to community policing are being taken off the beat and given other duties to the detriment of crime prevention in many local communities; when these gardaí are likely to be returned to fulltime community policing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8488/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 10 together.
On 1 January 1995 there was a total of 249 members of the force engaged full time on community policing duties in urban areas throughout the country. Some 197 of these were located in the Dublin metropolitan area while the remainder, comprising 52 members, were based in the Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo-Leitrim, Louth-Meath, Longford-Westmeath and Tipperary divisions. This system of community policing was first introduced in 1987 in the Dublin metropolitan area and has been expanding since then.
While I am aware that community gardaí are diverted from their community policing duties from time to time, I am informed by the Garda authorities that this is not something that is done readily and only occurs in cases of absolute necessity. Of course, Garda management must be free to deploy the members of the force in accordance with the demands placed on it. The Garda authorities recognise and respect the unique and important role which community gardaí play in the prevention and detection of crime in local communities, the diversion of community gardaí to other policing duties is kept to an absolute minimum and members are returned to community policing duties in their localities as soon as circumstances allow.
Will the Minister accept that in reality community gardaí are allocated to other duties on a regular basis and that priority must be given to preventative policing? Will she agree that such policing not only acts as a deterrent to criminals but is an important reassurance particularly to the elderly who feel safer when it is in place? Will she also agree that the recommendations of the Lord Mayor's commission on crime should be implemented immediately by the Government? Those recommendations include the setting up of new rosters, the transfer of traffic functions to other bodies, the reduction of Garda time spent in court and increased civilian duties.
I share the Deputy's sentiments that once community policing is assigned to an area it should remain in place. The daily deployment of Garda forces in stations is a matter for Garda management. I do not dictate to it regarding the assignment of gardaí. Almost every time I meet the Commissioner I raise with him the need to ensure that community policing is in fact community policing. It is realistic to expect, however, that from time to time it would be necessary for local Garda management to take gardaí out of community policing to deal with, say, a major crime or to police a major function in a community. I will pass on the Deputy's comments to the Garda Commissioner. The report of the Lord Mayor's commission on juveniles has been made available to the Garda and its recommendations are being examined. Issues relating to new rosters and so on are matters for Garda management.
I take the Minister's point, but does she not accept that it is an indication of a lack of leadership for her to allow total autonomy to be exercised by Garda management? On foot of the cross-party belief that community policing is not getting the priority it requires, given the high level of fear regarding crime among citizens, Garda management needs direction from the Minister.
The Garda Commissioner is well aware of my desire to have community policing extended. I met a number of Deputations on community policing from all over the country. It is incorrect for the Deputy to say I cannot indicate to the Commissioner the areas to which I would give priority, but the day-to-day employment of gardaí is a matter for Garda management. A Minister for Justice cannot run the daily affairs of Garda stations. I do not believe the Deputy would want a Minister to interfere politically with the day-to-day placements of gardaí and the work they are doing because he or she would not be aware of all the demands involved. I can assure the Deputy I have already indicated to the Commissioner my own views about community policing and they are the same as the Deputy's.
Is the Minister aware of the severe criticism levied against the community policing system at the recent Garda Representative Association Conference? In this context, will she at least issue a recommendation to the Commissioner that those gardaí allocated to community policing would provide that kind of policing other than in exceptional circumstances?
I will certainly convey that to the Commissioner. The Commissioner attended the conference, as did the Deputy, and I am sure he heard the criticism to which the Deputy refers.
In relation to community policing and the need to prioritise this form of preventative policing, as it was called, and following on a similar parliamentary question that I asked during a previous Question Time, has the Minister had an opportunity to act on her commitment to ensure that community policing vacancies arising due to illness or some other reason are filled? In the Minister's own constituency, which is now actually part of Dublin West, vacancies that arise for whatever reason are not being filled.
I recall the Deputy raising this issue with me on a previous occasion and, following on that, I made the necessary contacts requesting that no vacancies should be left unfilled. From time to time, vacancies occur due to retirements or promotions. Those vacancies are filled but that may not occur the day immediately after a retirement or a promotion. However, if the Deputy wishes to give me details of particular community policing vacancies that exist, I will investigate those.
I was disturbed to hear the Minister say in her reply that transfers from community policing are kept to a minimum. I am glad such transfers are kept to a minimum but they should not be taking place at all because it sends out the message that we are not serious about community policing. I believe the flow should be towards putting more gardaí into community policing because prevention is always better than cure. The Minister said that 249 gardaí are currently involved in community policing, with 197 of those in Dublin and the remaining 52 located around the country. What are the Minister's plans to expand the community policing scheme because I believe it is an area to which we are not giving sufficient attention. I want to see community policing being increased in the future.
I too would prefer if community gardaí were not diverted into other areas of fighting crime. However, I am assured by the Garda Síochána that community gardaí are not moved from their work except for the most serious of reasons. The example I gave was the committing of a major crime where the assistance of the gardaí from several areas might be required. I will get back to the Deputy on the type of proposals the Garda has in regard to expanding the scheme. Since 1987, the community policing scheme has expanded gradually each year. I would like to see it expand even further and, as the peace process continues, and as we begin to lose the burden of policing our Border areas, I hope to be able to divert resources into this type of scheme.
Accepting the principle of community policing, is the Minister satisfied that rural areas are being properly policed when one considers the restructuring of rural Garda stations and the high levels of crime in rural areas? Is the Minister satisfied that there is sufficient Garda presence in our rural towns and villages? Rural stations are being downgraded, hours of opening of stations are being limited and many stations do not have a sergeant on duty, to the annoyance of rural communities.
That is somewhat beyond the bounds of the question.
If the Deputy wishes to put down a question on that matter I will be happy to reply to it. This is not about rural police stations——
Community policing is across the divide.
Yes, but the Deputy extended the question to include the whole issue of Garda stations, etc. There are approximately 11,000 gardaí available to the Commissioner to deploy throughout the country. On an ongoing basis, a review of that deployment is carried out by the Garda Commissioners. Responsibility for the deployment of those gardaí rests wholly with the Garda Commissioner. I will make available to him all the necessary resources. The whole issue of rural policing is under review at present, as I am sure the Deputy was aware before his party left office.
I was not in office. I was only a backbencher.
The Deputy should not blame me for that.
I warn the Minister not to interfere with rural Garda stations. That would be a retrograde step.
