Joint Policing Committees
Published: 9 March, 2009
Sinn Féin Louth County Councillor and EU Candidate Tomás Sharkey has called on the county manager to set up the Joint Policing Committees in all areas of the county as soon as possible.
Councillor Sharkey says
"On the 24th December 08 Circular LG 10.08 entitled "Establishment and Operation of Joint Policing Committee in all Local Authority Areas" was issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government to all local authorities. The circular stated that the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform had signed guidelines relating to the establishment and operation of Joint Policing Committees in each Local Authority Area.
The circular requested local authorities "to make arrangements for the early establishment of a JPC in each city/county/borough/town council authority for which they are responsible".
"A pilot JPC has been in operation in Drogheda for some time now and is proving to be quite successful in improving policing in the area with An Garda Siochana, local authority and the community working together to make communities safer."
Commenting Tomás Sharkey says
"Recent comments by the Louth County Manager regarding the possibility of reducing the number of JPCs in Louth because of reduced resources are short-sighted to say the least. Communities are crying out for proper policing and for the opportunity to have their voices heard when it comes to issues relating to their areas. The JPCs are an ideal forum for An Garda Siochana, Local Authority officials, elected and community representatives to make a major contribution to improved policing of the areas they represent.
"I believe that the cost of setting up and running the JPCs in Dundalk, Ardee and the County Council Area can be kept to a minimum with proper strategic planning. The benefits in terms of crime prevention and safer communities would completely outweigh the running costs.
Councillor Sharkey concludes
"Sinn Féin will be insisting that the County Manager carry out the request from the Department of the Environment to set up Joint Policing Committees in all local authority areas in the county as soon as possible. We also call on the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, to live up to statements made by him on Budget 2009 when he said that his "greatest priority is the fight against crime" and that's why he "put the money where it should be".
For further comment contact Cllr Sharkey at 087-9090629
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