Public have their say on policing issues
THE Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is visiting Tallaght on Tuesday, January 23, to listen to what members of the public have to say on policing issues in their communities.
Established by the Government last May, the Commission has been tasked with developing a blueprint for the future of policing in Ireland – with its report due in September, 2018.
The Commission is examining all aspects of policing in Ireland, including all functions currently carried out by An Garda Siochana and the oversight bodies such as the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).
As part of its evidence gathering, the independent commission is organising a series of regional public events, which includes an informal, drop-in evening in the Rua Red arts centre this Tuesday, January 23 for those living in Tallaght and its surrounding community of South Dublin County.
Members of the public, interested parties, community groups, residents’ associations and other stakeholders are invited to attend the evening to meet with Commission members one-to-one and have their say on policing issues and the future of policing.
Speaking with The Echo, Donncha O’Connell, a member of the Commission and Professor of Law at NUI Galway, said: “We are trying to get as much of a geographical spread as possible.
“We have research going on at all levels but one of the key things is, what do the public expect from their police service?
“Going into communities allows us to also check our own thinking, check against what the public thinks.”
He added: “We are really busy and are getting out there and trying to have as far a reach into communities, both rural and urban.
“We want to gather the local knowledge that exists in communities and get as much of that as possible.”
To date, Mr O’ Connell said that, in general, communities that the Commission has spoken with would like to see more community police and Garda visibility, alongside a connection to gardai in their areas.
The knowledge gathered at regional public events will feed into the Commission’s work, which will make recommendations to Government on Ireland’s police force by September 2018.
The open meeting is being held this Tuesday, January 23, in the Rua Red arts centre from 6pm to 8pm.
Anybody who is interested in contributing but who can’t make the meeting is invited to make a submission by post or email by January 31.
Visit www.poilcereform.ie
