A CALL has been made for the Swords Community Policing Forum to be reinstated.
Paul Mulville, an Independent councillor who represents the Swords Local Electoral Area (LEA), said he has received many representations regarding policing issues in the Swords, Portrane and Donabate areas.
Cllr Mulville said the local community policing forum – which lost its funding in 2013 – was a good start in building links between the local community and An Garda SÃochána and in helping to address local policing issues.
“Before the community policing forum was scrapped, it held a number of useful public meetings around Swords,
? he stated.
“Indeed it was hoped that the scheme, which included the Balbriggan Community Policing Forum, would have been extended to allow a Donabate Portrane Community Policing Forum be set up.
“The Community Policing Forum staff had been working on this when it was wound up, due to lack of funds.
? Cllr Mulville added:
“I am now calling on Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, to put in place funding to allow the Swords and Balbriggan Community Policing be re-established, and the Donabate Portrane Community Policing Forum to be set up.
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A spokesman for the Department of Justice said An Garda SÃochána engages extensively with local communities throughout the country including through bodies such as Joint Policing Committees (JPC) as well as more informal and voluntary neighbourhood groups of many types.
“This is an important element of the Garda approach to community policing and will continue in those areas identified (Swords, Donabate and Portrane) as it does elsewhere,
? he told Northside People.
“This department has not provided direct funding to local groups of this type in North Dublin or elsewhere.
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