COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Thursday, December 16, 2021

QUESTION NO. 1

QUESTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Given that provisions for a new LPF and its costs weren't adopted into the budget 2022, the community in Lucan still inform us that a requirement for a forum that connects all the relevant stakeholders in matters of community policing is needed. Therefore this committee asks the Chief Executive if Council management would support the establishment of a community forum under a voluntary basis which would be set up in a similar fashion to existing LPF's. only completely voluntary.

REPLY:

The position of the Council has been clear and consistent that without additional resources the Council is unable to support the work of a new Local Policing Forum for the Lucan area. The Item asks whether “Council management would support the establishment of a community forum under a voluntary basis which would be set up in a similar fashion to existing LPF's, only completely voluntary.” Clarification on what being completely voluntary entails would be useful as the Guidelines for LPFs indicate that there would need to be:

• LPF Management Committee, the membership should include:
  • a representative of An Garda Siochána of Inspector or more senior rank;
  • a representative of the local authority at a senior level, e.g., Area Manager or person at equivalent level of responsibility;
  • a representative nominated from the relevant local drug task force;
  • no less than three residents from the local community;
  • one local authority elected member chosen from those elected members who have registered with the JPC their interest in being a member of the relevant LPF.

• LPF Coordination
  • The Management Committee should appoint one of its members or another person to co-ordinate the activities of the LPF and to liaise between the LPF and the JPC.
  • The coordinator will perform a key role in building open and trusting relationships with the local community and all stakeholders as the LPF develops.
  • In order to carry out this role effectively, the coordinator should have considerable local knowledge and experience of working in the community.
  • S/he should also be readily accessible to the local community.

Any new Local Policing Forum would need to be agreed by the Joint Policing Committee

Note

There is a history of Community Safety Forums in the county (North Clondalkin and South West Clondalkin) linked to the Community Safety Forum workers funded by the Dept of Health. They are not tied to the JPC structure but did come about through the work of the Clondalkin Drug Task Force.  They include local residents, Councillors, often a Sergeant or Community Gardai and a representative from the Council (Community worker or Housing Officer). The reason the Council was involved was because the catchment areas were predominately council properties, this is not the case in Lucan and in Adamstown where it could be Housing Associations.