BYCATHERINE COOK

Community-based policing and community involvement is the way forward in tackling anti-social behaviour. This is the strong message which came from a public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in Letterkenny this week.

A number of questions were submitted to Letterkenny Town Council in advance of the meeting relating to various issues including roads, garda numbers, anti-social behaviour and motoring issues.

The meeting was attended by approximately 30 members of the public and the Joint Policing Committee which is comprised of members of Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Town Council, Council Staff, and a number of other organisations in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.

This was the first public meeting of its kind in Donegal, and only the second to be held throughout the country since the initiative was established on a pilot basis last year.

Superintendent Vincent O'Brien expressed his disappointment that the meeting was not better attended, but stated: "This is obviously a sign that there are no obvious huge policing issues, or we would be full to the rafters."

Chairman Damien Blake commented: "Letterkenny has been chosen as one of 22 towns to participate in this trial pilot scheme to try and break down the mystique of policing issues and get a process established to create a better relationship between the public, public representatives and gardai."

Addressing the meeting, Councillor Gerry McMonagle stated: "Community policing is where to start to prevent a lot of crime; from bad driving to anti-social behaviour and other criminal activity. I think we have to recognise also that these issues are not just the responsibility of the gardai, but are also our responsibility as local citizens."

Chairman of the Joint Policing Committee. Councillor Damien Blake explained that a report from the meeting will be forwarded to the Department of Justice.

Councillor Jean Crossan expressed her disappointment also that the meeting was not better attended by the young people of Letterkenny. "A lot of the issues we have discussed here concern young people. And I am disappointed that there aren't more of them here tonight. At the end of the day there are more good young people than bad young people in Donegal and I think their voice needs to be heard."

The Joint Policing Committee was established in 2006 in order to bring public representatives and community groups together with high-ranking members of the Garda Siochana. Councillor Damien Blake explained: "It is a platform providing a better system of dealing with community issues surrounding policing and to drive issues and drive issues of local importance giving a real voice and real active participation to local citizens."