TIME FOR PROMISED JPC'S LONG OVER DUE - Gallagher
Published: 4 March, 2009
TIME FOR PROMISED JPC'S LONG OVER DUE - Gallagher
Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher has hit out at the Government this week for their failure to roll out Joint Policing Committee's which were promised to be rolled out last June.
Cllr Gallagher said, "The function of the JPC's is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority's administrative area. As part of their remit they are required to submit an annual report to the local authority on how they have experienced their functions during that year. The membership make up of JPC's varies but includes members of local authorities, of the Oireachtas, Garda officers, the local authority manager and community/voluntary representatives.
The JPC can deliver on the ground but only if the community takes ownership will it have any chance of delivering its full potential.
Cllr Gallagher continued: "We in Sinn Féin can see the potential benefits for the community and have been pushing locally for the immediate roll out of our own JPC. Last November I took a motion to Donegal County Council calling that Garda Superintendents meet with Local area Committee's twice yearly, which was passed unanimously. Unfortunately nothing has come of this motion as of yet, and I feel over this past months with a rise in burglaries this forum would have given a voice to local communities, we cannot afford to wait any longer for the roll out of JPC's, the communities need a voice, and it is politicians responsibility to provide the forum for their voice's to be heard."
We believe that it is critically important that a genuine partnership exists between our communities and An Garda Síochána. It is also important that the Gardaí are accountable to local communities and public representatives".
I am confident that through the roll out of the local JPC we will be able to deliver focused engagement between members of our community and the Garda Síochána. This in turn creates better understanding of the role of the Garda and creates better accountability structures. It is through these measures that we as a community can help to curb antisocial behavior and the ongoing threat of criminal activity.
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Donegal Sinn Féin
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