Addressing a public meeting last night in St. Phillips National School, Mountview with Labour Party Leader Pat Rabbitte TD in attendance, Deputy Joan Burton said that despite the population explosion in Dublin 15, the number of Community Gardai based in Blanchardstown is in decline, while anti-social behaviour is ruining quality of life for many families and vulnerable individuals in the area.
“In 2001, there were 21 Community Gardai based in Blanchardstown station. By March 2006, this had fallen to only 17. To many people community policing simply means a more visible presence of dedicated and accessible Gardai on the ground. This is of course an important part of it, but there is much more required.
”Community policing requires partnership between communities and the Gardai that gives local communities a real say in how their areas are policed. It means committing the resources to allow Gardai the time to get out on the beat and develop relationships with the local community, so that when an incident takes place, a Community Garda is in a position to act immediately, informed by their personal knowledge of the individuals and families involved.”
“Anti-social behaviour is much more than a nuisance. The quality of life for many families is damaged and in some cases ruined by crime and vandalism. Particularly vulnerable people like single parents or the elderly are often singled out and targeted for cruel treatment. Labour knows better than any other party the misery that criminal and anti-social behaviour inflicts on our communities and we believe that visible and active community policing is the key to reversing this growing problem”.
Phillip Keegan of the Local Community Drugs Task Force spoke of the problems caused by the drugs industry in Dublin 15 and stressed the need for more Community Gardai if this problem is to be tackled effectively.
Labour Party Leader Pat Rabbitte TD spoke of the many citizens in urban areas who are experiencing social exclusion and suffering at the hands of anti-social behaviour.
“Decent but vulnerable citizens are prisoners in their own homes, fearful of walking to the shop after dark. They have lost trust in the State – in the politicians, in the Gardai, in the Council. They are crying out for help and lecturing them on social deprivation brings little relief.”
“Labour will soon by publishing it’s detailed proposals to transform policing in Ireland. Without pre-empting that launch, I can say that Labour’s policy will be based on two commitments, both of which are genuine and achievable. First there will be an increase in policing IN the community and there will be increased policing WITH the community. There will be genuine partnership, both in the assessment of policing need and in its delivery. And instead of handed down-targets from management, success will be measured on the ground, in local neighbourhoods, by those who live there.”