Joint Policing Committee
Issued : Sunday 11 October, 2009
The first meeting of the Passage West Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was held on Monday 14th September at the town hall in Passage West. Members of the Town Council, Oireachtas, community representatives, officials from Cork County Council and representatives from An Garda Siochana were in attendance.
As a member of the local authority I was appointed as chairman of the JPC. It is a real honour and an exciting challenge chair Passage West's first Joint Policing Committee. I hope we can use the opportunity provided by this forum to improve how both the Town Council and the local Gardí serve and interact with the community.
The District Superintendent gave a brief outline of the key crime statistics for the area and the Gardí from the local station reported on some of their recent issues and successes. The members of the Town Council and the local community representatives felt that there was a lot to be gained by focusing the attention of the JPC on issues like anti social behaviour, vandalism and road safety as a starting point.
I feel it is important that we stay focused on results and outcomes which can be reasonably achieved. If at the end of my term as chairman of the JPC we have put in place some facilities for young people, seen a reduction in anti social behaviour and have a plan in place to tackle any other issues I think I will have achieved something worthwhile in my first term as a councillor.
It was agreed that a list of common complaints would be complied by me as chairman of the JPC and passed onto the local Garda Sergeant before the next scheduled meeting of the JPC.
A date of Monday November 30th was selected for the next meeting. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and raise issues of concern with the members Town Council and An Garda Siochana. Anyone seeking more information or who would like to be involved in the JPC can contact me on wdobyrne@gmail.com or 087 2626048.
Cllr 
