I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that community policing is an integral element in policing rural and urban communities. This form of policing involves the community in the policing process with a focus on crime prevention.
Urban areas, particularly in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford have dedicated community policing units. Community policing in rural areas is integrated with regular policing activities.
Community policing units have responsibility for crime prevention initiatives such as neighbourhood watch, community alert, hospital safety and security and campus watch.
The community policing programme was reviewed as part of the Garda organisations structures under the strategic management initiative programme of modernisation and I will give careful consideration to all of its recommendations, including any it may make on the community policing programme.