South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee Annual Report 2014
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South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee Annual Report 2014 South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee Annual Report 2014 Introduction South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee was established on the 26th October 2007. The Committee continues to provide a forum for representatives from An Garda Síochána, South Dublin County Council, Oireachtas members and Community representatives, to make an important contribution to addressing issues relating to crime locally, to get together in a regular and structured way to consult with each other, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of South Dublin County. The JPC is a partnership, co-operative in nature and operating with the minimum of formality to identify, raise awareness of and find solutions for issues impacting on, or causing concerns for the local community. South Dublin Joint Policing Committee continues to be a partnership between an Garda Siochana, South Dublin County Council and the residents of South Dublin County. Members of the Joint Policing Committee work together to help prevent crime and solve neighborhood problems by: Encouraging active citizen involvement in policing efforts. Focusing on issues of ongoing public concern. Providing continuity of service to the community Ensuring active involvement by the relevant staff in problem-solving Initiate creative responses to neighborhood problems. Developing the capacity of residents and affording them the opportunity to speak and act effectively on their own behalf Strengthening and building groups and organizations so residents can advocate for their own interests. The work and public meetings of the three Local Policing Fora and their role and reporting relationship to the JPC fully increases community involvement and trust in the work of the committee. The Joint Policing Committee in 2014 worked with the newly established Public Participation Network (PPN) to select four representatives from the PPN to represent the Community on the Joint Policing Committee. The Committee increased participation with the Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces by inviting the Chairs of both Tallaght and Clondalkin Drug Task Forces to join. The Committee also invited representation from the Garda Diversion Projects onto the committee South Dublin County Council selected new members for the Joint Policing Committee following the local elections held in May of 2014. Section 1 – South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee Work Plan Priority Issue Actions taken in relation to Persons Responsible Timescale Summarise Progress Achieved each priority issue (JCP or JPC for Action Committee) 1 To promote positive To increase the activity by JPC Executive Ongoing Available at crime prevention and including information on (Supplied by SDCC http://www.sdcc.ie/services/community/joint- community safety community safety policing-committee/ initiatives through the initiatives/projects media and the web page of South Dublin County JPC 2 Deter crime and anti- Subgroup in place to JPC Committee with Ongoing The Subgroup reported to each of the JPC social behaviour in implement the findings in the support from Parks meetings in 2014. public parks report ‘Reclaiming our Parks’ Department SDCC. Following the reconstitution of the JPC following Implementation of the the Local Elections new members were selected. recommendations Crime prevention officers presented to the JPC included in “Reclaiming our Parks 3 To support To provide ongoing support for Gardai and Local Ongoing CCTVcontinues to be monitored 24/7 in the Community CCTV the following Community Authority Jobstown, Brookfield, Killinarden and Fettercairn Programs in South CCTV schemes in South areas of Tallaght at Tallaght Garda Station and Dublin County Dublin County complements the Garda Scheme for the Town North Clondalkin Centre area. Jobstown CCTV in North Clondalkin Community areas is Fettercairn and Brookfield monitored in the North Clondalkin Garda Station. Killinarden 4 To provide continued To develop a close liaison JPC members Ongoing South Dublin County continues to have a large support for Pro-social between the JPC and its CSC Committee number of pro-social initiatives which are managed initiatives in the members and inter agency CDI and directed by inter-agency working groups. This County projects in the County. Local Partnerships has resulted in the continued partnerships on To support inter agency Regular reporting to the JPC Community/Voluntary Night-Time Leagues, new Halloween events, social projects such as the on initiatives throughout the Sector integration projects, and community safety Drugs Task Forces, County. Local Drugs Task initiatives. Football night leagues, Provide support for pro-social Forces Tallaght West projects by improved FAI Childhood Development coordination between Gardai, Initiative, Social SDCC and Community Integration projects etc. Representatives 5 To plan for events To ensure that events SDCC Ongoing A number of other events have been held attracting large attracting large crowds are a Gardai throughout the County which attracted large crowds safe and enjoyable experience Public Transport crowds. The cooperation between the community, To build on the good for all those who live, work and providers Gardai and LA has resulted in a safe and enjoyable working relationship visit South Dublin County Local Communities experience for those attending. The experiences between the Gardai, Local Businesses have resulted in improved cooperation. Festivals South Dublin County were held in more villages in 2014 and these were Council, the organised in cooperation with an Garda Siochana, Community and other SDCC and the local community. stakeholders co- ordinating events 6 To improve the Support the work of the three Joint Policing Ongoing The Three Local Policing Forum continue to meet. process of pilot local policing fora in the Committee The LA, the Gardai and Local Communities are engagement and County committed to these groups and have provided interaction between Each local policing fora will representation at the highest level. This has local community reps. report to the JPC meeting allowed decisions to be made quickly and where An Garda Síochaná, necessary allowed resources be channelled to Elected Consider recommendations of address problems. Representatives, the Local Policing Fora Public meetings were held during 2014. South Dublin County Council, Local Drugs Support for public and other Task Forces on meetings organised by the matters concerns Local Policing Fora concerning community safety. 7 Support the Establish relationship between Gardai Ongoing Contact remains with restorative justice and recommendations JCP Committee and SDCC community mediation services. The Garda contained in the Restorative Justice Services Restorative Justice Síochaná SARA continues to be available as a National Commission as outlined in the National Service problem solving tool for local communities.. on Restorative Justice Commission on Restorative CDI West Tallaght by increasing Justice Community Mediation relations with the Local Community Restorative Justice Service in Tallaght 8 Consultation with Contact is ongoing with South Gardai Ongoing Contact is ongoing with South Dublin Comhairle na Young People Dublin Comhairle na nÓg SDCC nÓg and the JPC agreed to partner with the Consult with Young Comhairle na nÓg Comhairle on an anti-bully charter which will begin People in the County Youth Services in 2014. Arrangements are in place for regular regarding community Local Community reporting and contact between the JPC and the safety Comhairle. Contact was also made with the Tallaght Youth Forum and they presented findings of a survey to the JPC in 2014. 9 Support South Dublin Continue to support the Age SDCC, Gardai, Age Ongoing An Garda Síochaná is represented on the Steering County becoming an Friendly Network in work on Friendly Network Committee. Arrangements are in place for Age Friendly County any safety issues identified reporting to the JPC when necessary. Crime which is a safe place Prevention advice is available to older persons for older persons groups throughout the County. 10 Support the Work on any actions identified SDCC, Gardai, local Ongoing Work is ongoing with organisations to encourage implementation of the that can improve the quality of community reporting of incidents. Local organisations are also South Dublin County life and safety of residents in aware of officials in various organisations who Integration Strategy the County have special responsibility for integration. SDCC/Garda clinics are available in a number of community centres. 11 Support the work of Continue to provide support to SDCC, Gardai, JPC, Ongoing The JPC agreed to reconstitute the group following the Intimidation Sub- the Group Local Drugs Task the Local Elections. group of the JPC Forces Section 2 Advice/Recommendations provided by the Joint Policing Committee to the local authority and the Gardai during the year The JPC has discussed many different problems at the meetings, agreement was given in many cases to target problems areas and look at initiatives which would benefit the area. In South Dublin County, the Gardai and the Local Authority have a good working relationship. Contact is made both at Senior Level, through the JPC and other inter-agency committees and also at operational level with the Community and Housing Departments and the Community and Juvenile Liaison Sections of the Gardai. Crime Prevention and Traffic problems/blackspots