Frustration is growing among local councillors over the delay in the formation of the new Community Safety Partnerships, an arrangement that was due to replace the old Joint Policing Commissions (JPC).
The JPC was a forum made up of councillors, TDs, leading members of the local Garda Síochána and community representatives.
It met on quarterly basis, generally chaired by one of the county councillors. Local crime stats were explained as well as issues being raised and discussed by the members.
However, the JPCs were disbanded under the previous government and were to be replaced by the new arrangement. As of yet they haven’t yet been established – and the last JPC meeting in Laois was in April of last year.
At Monday’s meeting of Laois County Council, Cllr James Kelly called for the Department of Justice to make progress on the issue.
“JPCs play an important part in bringing together local authorities, elected members, community groups and the Gardai and it was able to hold people to account.
“It allowed us to engage and build up relationships with the Gardai. It’s disappointing the Community Safety Partnerships have stalled.
“The safety and security of our communities are at stake. Crime is evolving all the time. Criminals are always looking for ways to exploit gaps in the system and the JPCs were good at identifying those gaps.”
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