Report No. 267/2017 to the Lord Mayor and Members of Dublin City
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Report No. 267/2017 To the Lord Mayor and Members of Dublin City Council Report of the Chairperson of the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee Annual Report of the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee on the performance of its functions during 2016 Section 36 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provided for the establishment in 2006 of Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) in each Local Authority. In Dublin City, owing to its scale and size, this consisted of both a Citywide Joint Policing Committee and 5 Area Subcommittees corresponding with the five operational areas of the City Council. Guidelines for the operation of Joint Policing Committees were originally introduced by the Department of Justice in 2008 and revised in August 2014 to cover the period 2014 – 2019 (Council Report no. 288/2014 refers). With effect from April 2016 responsibility for issuing guidelines in respect of Joint Policing Committees comes under the remit of the Policing Authority, which was established by the Minister for Justice and Equality in January 2016 to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána in relation to policing services in Ireland. The authority consists of a Chairperson and 8 ordinary members. The Authority has not made any amendments to the existing guidelines to date. The main purpose of these committees is to provide a forum whereby a Local Authority and Senior Garda personnel, with participation from Local Authority members, Oireachtas members and community/business interests, can discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. The Dublin City Joint Policing Committee, at its meeting held on 24th February 2015, approved the following process in the development of a six-year Strategic Plan and Annual Action Plans for Dublin City: Three high priority issues for Dublin City six-year (2015-2021) Strategic Plan: 1. Community Safety / Confidence-building 2. Antisocial Behaviour – Housing Estates 3. Street Crime The following action matters will form the basis of annual work plans for each of the six committees: City J.P.C.: Drugs Misuse Street Crime / Street Issues Community Courts Dublin South Central Restorative Justice Estate Management Parks Security / Bye-laws Dublin South East: Traffic, Cycling Burglaries / Theft Prison Service Dublin Central: Halloween Licensing / Off-licences Victim Support Dublin North Central: Policing / Crime Data Business night-time economy Graffiti / Dumping Dublin North West: C.C.T.V. Youth Services Family support The Joint Policing Committee is required to submit a report to the City Council annually on the performance of its functions during the preceding year. Accordingly the report is set out hereunder. Councillor Daithí De Róiste Chairperson Report of Dublin City Joint Policing Committee Dublin City JPC Annual Work Plan 2016 Update on meetings held during 2016 Strategic Origin Summary of Lead Person/Agency Timescale for action Action taken Objectives Actions 1. Community Department of Justice Drugs Misuse Declan Wallace, Ass. Strategic priorities Drugs: Safety Guidelines Chief Executive (DCC) identified – February Drugs features on the agenda of both 2015 the Dublin City Centre Business Forum (DCCBF) and the High Level Group, Dublin City JPC: Jack Nolan, Asst. Garda Annual work plans for who meet every 6 weeks and monthly Approved process Commissioner (AGS) six JPC Committees respectively. (February 2015) for established – February development of Dublin 2015 High Level Group on Street Issues The City 6-year Strategic City Joint Policing HLG meet monthly to discuss Street Work Plans (2015- Committee Issues, including drugs. 2021) Chair: Councillor Daithí Representatives from the Ana Liffey High Priority Issues: De Róiste Drug Project (ALDP) attend on 1. Community occasion to update group on their Safety / ongoing work to tackle this issue. confidence- building Recent initiatives are as follows: 2. Antisocial Behaviour / Assertive Case Management Team Housing estates Arising out of the work of the Ana 3. Street crime Liffey Drug Project and supported by the HLG of senior stakeholders, an Annual Work Plans Evaluation Report on the Assertive (Action Matters for Case Management Team pilot was North Central Area JPC carried out by Ms. Emer Dolphin and listed to the left) launched by Minister Catherine Byrne on November 8th 2016. Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF) It is anticipated that the first Medically Supervised Injecting Facility (MSIF) will open in late 2017 / early 2018 (legislation passed on 16/05/2017). Once location is confirmed, it is expected that consultation will take place with relevant stakeholders. Minister for Communities & National Drugs Strategy, Catherine Byrne, scheduled to attend future meeting of JPC meeting to address concerns of members. “Think before you buy” campaign This campaign aims to highlight awareness of the link between casual recreational drug use, the real money and the resulting devastating serious violence. A presentation on this, accompanied by a 4-minute video, was given to the March 2017 JPC meeting by Mr. Philip Jennings & Mr. Philip Keegan, SAFER Blanchardstown. A letter of support endorsing the campaign was provided from the JPC to the group. Further information is available on: www.thinkbeforeyoubuy.ie 2. Anti-social Address street High Level Group – High Level Group on Street Issues: Behaviour crime/ issues Members comprise This was established in 2014 and its Dublin City Council, An membership comprises the Assistant Garda Síochána, Health Chief Executive (Dublin City Council), Service Executive (HSE) Assistant Garda Commissioner (An & Dublin Homeless Garda Síochána), Head of Drug Executive Addiction Services (Health Service Executive) and Director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). Representatives of the Ana Liffey Drug Project (ALDP) also attend these meetings when requested. The group meets on a monthly basis and its role is to co-ordinate the activities of the various key agencies on issues relating to problems on the streets of Dublin City Centre including, drugs, anti-social behaviour, crime, begging, homelessness, graffiti etc. MSIF: See above Begging: Begging continues to be an issue and a Begging Study was commissioned by DCC in 2016 and carried out by Ms. Alice O’Flynn, Independent Researcher. The completed study was circulated at meetings of the Dublin City JPC, High Level Group on Street Issues and Dublin City Centre Business Forum in early 2017. Ms. O’Flynn attended meetings to address queries raised in respect of the study. It is anticipated that recommendations arising from report will be actioned in the coming months. Public Order Patrols An Garda Síochána introduced Public Order Patrols in Summer 2016 to provide additional security in high footfall areas of the city centre at weekends, e.g. Temple Bar, Harcourt Street, vicinity of niteclubs etc. These run Thursday-Saturday night inclusive and operate whereby groups of 4 gardaí patrol areas of high footfall on foot. Feedback has been very positive to date and these will continue to operate for the foreseeable future, resources-permitting. Street Drinking Topic discussed on an ongoing basis with members of AGS & Business/Community Reps at JPC, High Level Group and Dublin City Centre Business Forum meetings. St. Patrick’s Day and the 2016 Commemoration Event passed off with little incident owing to strong co-operation between DCC, AGS and Business representative groups, including additional security arrangements being put in place and agreed opening hours of off-licences on days in question. Similar security arrangements to 2016 were put in place for Easter 2017, which significantly reduced incidences of antisocial behaviour associated with alcohol consumption. Graffiti Presentation on Graffiti made to January 2016 meeting by Iarnród Éireann to highlight the extent of the problem, following which a meeting was convened with AGS to discuss the issue further. DCC is linking in with Dunlaoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) and AGS via a database where offenders are targeted and their individual tags recorded with a view to identifying perpetrators and bringing them to justice. “Think Don’t Tag campaign” In November 2016, staff from the South East Area office gave a demo to the JPC of a video to accompany their campaign “Think Don’t Tag”. This campaign is aimed at deterring 8-12 year-olds from engaging in the practice of graffiti. This was officially launched by the Lord Mayor in March 2017. Estate Management An official from the Housing & Residential Services Department updated the Committee on 2 separate occasions in 2016 (January & September) on the implications of the new Housing Act 2014 in terms of estate management, dealing with antisocial behaviour, securing evictions in The Courts etc. The Department is due to provide a further update to the July 2017 City JPC meeting. 3. Street Community This issue was actively pursued by the Crime/Issues Courts Dublin City Business Association (DCBA) since 2004 until it ceased operating in early 2016. Following on from a meeting held with the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Assistant Chief Executive and Chairperson of the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in June 2016, assurances were given that the concept was still under active consideration. Presentations made to Dublin City Joint Policing Committee in 2016 & 2017 (or part thereof) Graffiti – made by Iarnród Éireann (January 2016) Housing Act 2014 - made by Housing & Residential Services (January & September 2016) “Halloween 2016”