Agenda and minutes

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Padraig Fallon

               SECONDED by Cllr Brendan Barry

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Joint Policing Committee Meeting of 30^th January 2023.

1.      Email from the Office of the Minister for Justice acknowledging Resolution from the Joint Policing Committee regarding violence against women and paid leave.

2.      Email from the Office of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability and Integration and Youth acknowledging Resolution from the Joint Policing Committee regarding violence against women and paid leave for survivors of domestic violence.

3.      Policing Authority Newsletter February 2023.

Chairperson, Councillor Enda McGloin welcomed Sergeant, Cara Kiernan, Crime Prevention Officer to the meeting and invited her to make her presentation.

Sergeant Cara Kiernan delivered a presentation to the meeting as set out in Appendix 1 to the Minutes of this meeting.

Following the presentation, Sergeant Kiernan answered a number of queries put forward by the members.

Inspector Curry advised there were no fatal collisions in the County since the previous meeting.

Inspector Curry gave a report on crime and public order statistics up to 29^th March 2023.

Inspector Curry outlined the following:

·         Assault Causing Harm Detections are down 23%

·         Detections for Intoxicated Driving of a vehicle are up 38%

·         Mandatory Intoxicant Testing (MIT) Checkpoints are up 17%

·         Drug-Driving Detections are up 225%

·         Domestic – No Offence Identified are down 27%

·         Cultivate or Manufacture of Drugs Detections are up 200%

Inspector Curry advised An Garda Siochana held a “Day of Action” on the 18^th March 2023, which promoted road safety and good driver behaviour. On the 23^rd March an event was held for Down Syndrome, both events were very successful.  Inspector Curry advised that on the 28^th April 2023 a “Go Purple National Day” is being planned for victims of domestic abuse.

Inspector Curry advised Community Engagement events and talks with Transition Year Students have taken place and have proved very successful and these will continue.

Councillor Padraig Fallon referred to the increased number of burglaries in recent weeks which is worrying and having an impact on individuals and households.  Councillor Fallon appealed to people in rural areas and villages to be vigilant and to take note of registrations of unknown vehicles.

Inspector Curry appealed to the public to report any suspicious activity to An Garda Siochana and she reiterated that this is not wasting An Garda Siochana’s time. Inspector Curry said An Gardai Siochana can issue a message to the community quickly with the rollout of the new Leitrim Alerts messaging system.

Councillor Enda McGloin queried if the units that detect drugs driving are specialised units.  Inspector Carla Curry said this work is generally carried out by the Road Policing Unit, but where an accident occurs local units carry out this duty.

Councillor Thomas Mulligan expressed his concerns in regard to the increase in anti-social behaviour, repeat calls to houses and the time and resources that is being taken up in dealing with this issue. Councillor Mulligan said there should be an increased emphasis and measures put in place to deal with anti-social behaviour.  Councillor Mulligan said it is on the increase and impacts on the wider community.

Inspector Curry said specific cases cannot be discussed, but she acknowledged the difficulty that anti-social behaviour creates, outlining the importance of making  contact with the Gardai about such incidents.

Should electronic tagging be introduced as a compulsory measure for criminals who have re-offended. Far too many violent crimes including murder, rape and other sexual offences have been committed by criminals freed on bail and early release from prison?

Shouldelectronic taggingbe introducedas acompulsory measurefor criminals whohave re-offended.Far toomany violentcrimes including murder,rape andother sexualoffences have beencommitted bycriminals freed on bail and early release from prison?

Councillor Sean McDermott said additional measures should be used to combat criminality. Councillor McDermott acknowledged criminals should be given a reasonable chance, however he said sometimes people out on bail can commit serious offences.

Inspector Curry said electronic tagging is not the responsibility of An Garda Siochana and she said matters in relation to the use of this method of monitoring criminals should be raised at a national level.  Inspector Curry said systems are in place to ensure people who are out on bail are complying with their bail conditions.

Following the recent study published into stalking and harassment and the revelation that less than 50% of all victims report their harassment, this is further confirmation if any was needed that our current policing model is disconnected from the citizens of our country. So therefore I ask that this JPC write to the The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and the Minister for Justice Simon Harris TD to change direction and return to, on the beat community policing which served us well as a society for eight decades.

Following therecent studypublished intostalking andharassment andthe revelation thatless than50% ofall victimsreport theirharassment, thisis furtherconfirmation ifany wasneeded thatour currentpolicing modelis disconnectedfrom thecitizens ofour country.So thereforeI askthat thisJPC write to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD and the Ministerfor Justice Simon HarrisTD tochange directionand returnto, onthe beatcommunity policing which served uswell as asociety foreight decades.

Inspector Curry said there is a huge emphasis on members of An Garda Siochana being out on the beat in the community.  On the beat patrols are recorded in the PULSE system and this method of policing continues to be monitored and reviewed.

Councillor Enda McGloin and Councillor Sean McGowan supported Cllr Warnock’s proposal and it was agreed to write to An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Ministerfor Justice, Simon HarrisTD, on this matter.

Can the Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken comfirm that Gardai from Kinlough, Garda Station have to travel to Drumshanbo and possibly Carrick on Shannon to deal with situations whilst on duty in Kinlough?

Can theChief SuperintendentAidan Glackenconfirm thatGardai from Kinlough, GardaStation haveto travelto Drumshanboand possiblyCarrick on Shannon to deal with situations whilst on duty in Kinlough?

Inspector Curry said resources are redeployed to meet the needs of the community and as needs arise. The situation as outlined in the question from Councillor Warnock does not arise too often.

Ms Mary Quinn confirmed the Public Meeting of the Joint Policing Committee will be held in the Carrick-on-Shannon area in September. Members were advised to forward any ideas/themes that they may have for the public meeting to Kieran Brett.

Kieran Brett advised the next Joint Policing Committee meeting will take  place on Monday 2^nd October 2023.

Chairperson, Councillor Enda McGloin wished everyone an enjoyable summer and welcomed that there have been no reports of fatal collisions on the roads in Leitrim and outlined that he hoped that people will continue stay safe on the roads.