Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 June 2006
159 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the Cabra Policing Forum will be affected by new proposed legislation regarding policing arrangements with local communities. [22042/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently funding is made available via the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to a number of Community Policing Fora which have been established in the context of the Government's National Drugs Strategy.
There are two such fora operating on a pilot basis under the aegis of the North Inner City and Finglas/Cabra Local Drugs Task Forces respectively.
A Community Policing Forum under the aegis of the Finglas/Cabra Local Drugs Task Force was established as a pilot initiative in 2003. This project also receives annual funding of €51,584 through the Local Drugs Task Force initiative. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform acts as the channel of funding for this initiative.
My position on this matter is that the establishment of community policing fora, in general, needs to be delivered in the context of an appropriate policy framework for what will be relatively new partnership structures involving the Gardaí, local authorities and local communities to deal with a range of issues of mutual concern. Such a framework will ensure that community policing fora are developed in an appropriate, consistent and properly planned manner.
Section 36 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that joint policing committees shall be established by local authorities and the Garda Commissioner in accordance with guidelines to be issued by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform after consulting with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Draft guidelines have been prepared in consultation with the two Ministers.
Policing our society will be greatly strengthened by this partnership process involving the Garda Síochána and the elected national and local representatives of the communities which the Force serves and with the participation of the community and voluntary sector. Both the Garda Síochána and the local authorities have their responsibilities in ensuring that our policing needs are fully met. I am proposing to issue the guidelines for an initial brief pilot phase, during which committees will be established in a number of local authority areas.
I have forwarded the draft guidelines to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Woman's Rights inviting any observations which the committee might have and which I and my two Ministerial colleagues will consider prior to issue of the guidelines.
I intend to issue the guidelines on 16 June, thereby enabling the joint policing committees to be established in the relevant local authority areas at an early date. Preparatory work is underway prior to the formal establishment of the committees.
Provision has been made in the Votes of my Department and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for funding for the pilot joint policing committees in 2006.
The Garda Síochána Act provides that a joint policing committee may establish, in consultation with the local Garda superintendent, as the committee considers necessary within specific neighbourhoods, local policing fora. It is intended that supplemental guidelines for such policing fora will be made at a subsequent date.
