Reply - M11 - Local Policing Forum in the Lucan area

COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

MOTION NO. 11

MOTION: Councillor V. Casserly

Following the motion unanimously supported by the full Council at Februarys meeting to allocate resources to establish a local policing forum in the Lucan area, that this Area Committee calls for priority in the establishment of such a policing forum in Lucan.

REPORT:

Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Joint Policing Committees Guidelines - Amended, August 2014, set out the following in respect of Local Policing Forums:

Section 36(2)(d) of the Garda Síochána Act (see paragraph 2.1) provides for the establishment of local policing fora by JPCs. The internal procedures of such fora should be similar to those for the JPCs, but to the greatest extent possible be more informal.
As a general principle, JPCs should ensure that in establishing local policing fora they do not divert scarce resources from the work of the JPCs themselves.
In accordance with commitments in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016, guidelines for the operation of local policing fora in Local Drugs Task Force areas issued in 2009.

South Dublin County Joint Policing Committee set up three Local Policing Fora which are located in Tallaght (formed November 2010), Clondalkin (formed February 2011) and North Clondalkin (formed February 2011). In addition South Dublin County covers part of the D12 Local Policing Forum (formed March 2011). Public meetings are organised by the Local Policing Fora and supported by the Joint Policing Committee. Each Local Policing Fora is made up of representatives of the Local Authority, Garda Síochána, Elected Representatives, Local Drugs Task Force and local residents.

Additional LPFs have been discussed at the JPC meetings over the past year, particularly in relation to the establishment of LPFs in Lucan/Adamstown (and Rathfarnham) but in the absence of resources to support co-ordinators, it is considered that linkage with existing structures including neighbourhood watch schemes may be appropriate for these areas. Notwithstanding this some community members on the JPC have committed to pursuing a commitment on resources from central government.