Fwd: Submission on Joint Policing Committees

Cllr Keith Martin has called on members of the Westport Community to make their feelings know in relation to the successes or otherwise of the system of Local Policing Committees.

In his own submission to the Dept of Justice, Cllr Martin says the committees are too big, ineffective and powerless with TDs and other representatives "show-boating" for the press while the important issues of policing are not dealt with due to privacy or budgetary issues.

Cllr Martin is calling for smaller policing committees, without TDs, which would have some form of budget and an ability to discuss individuals and items in privacy outside of the public meetings.  He has also called for a shake up of national policing.

Cllr Martin is reacting to the call for submission from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD, who is seeking views from the Gardaí, local authorities, Oireachtas members, community organisations and the general public. 

Joint Policing Committees are established under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and are designed to allow for collective consideration of local policing issues between the Gardaí, local authority and Oireachtas elected members, officials and community representatives.

Submissions in relation to the Discussion Points outlined in this document or any other matters relating to the operation of JPCs may be sent by e-mail to jpc@justice.ie or by post to: JPC Review, Department of Justice and Equality, 94 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.  Please note submissions must arrive by the end of January, 2013.

Cllr Martin's Submission:

1.  There are far to many members on the committees.  The bigger the committee the less it does.  A maximum number should be set with each body nominating its representatives to that committee.

  

2. The inclusion of Oireachtas members is unnecessary.  Local Policing is a matter for local government not national politicians.  There is no justification for TDs/Senators, tasked with national affairs from serving on a local committee like this.  They do not serve on any other similar body.

3.  The value of many of the community/voluntary members is minimal and should be targeted at the organisations which are relevant.

4.  There is a danger that they are nothing more than talking shops whereby show-boating for the press takes precedent over action.

5.  Because they are public meetings the discussions are too limited.  While policing policy should be debated in public, individual cases and items cannot be.

6. Without specific bugeting powers there's little that can be done differently anyway.  Any changes are often an issue of "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" when it comes to resources.  

7.  Policing should be devolved to local councils or regions as it is in the UK.  This would allow greater freedom for innovation, imaginative budgeting and reaction to different types of crime due to rural-urban divide.  What works in the Phoenix Park does not work in the villages of Mayo.

Keith Martin

Councillor

Westport Town Council