Policing forum for North Inishowen

The recent spate of “creeper” burglaries in the peninsula may have abated but the resolve of the local community alert groups to provide neighbourhood watch continues. As was highlighted in recent meetings with Garda Superintendant Paul Glynn and representatives of the various groups in North Inishowen, the way forward in the fight against crime is a strengthening of community and Garda relations. To this end, it is planned to move forward with the setting up of a North Inishowen Community Policing Forum, to be made up of two representatives from each of the community alert/neighbourhood watch groups along with the Garda Superintendant and representatives from Donegal County Council. At the most recent meeting last week, two members of the North Inner City (Dublin) Policing Forum gave a very informative account of the setting up of the first policing forum in the country some 10 years ago and on how the local community there and the Gardai have been working together very successfully in tackling crime, anti social behaviour, drugs etc. They described how the policing forum allowed the community to have a say and can highlight the issues of concern to them and also for the Garda Superintendant to give account of the issues and difficulties, achievements from a Gardai perspective. They stressed that for a forum to be successful it must be more than a “talking shop.” “When issues/concerns are highlighted, it is important that the actions taken, difficulties met, successful outcomes are conveyed to the community groups and the policing forum acts as this conduit.” Superintendant Paul Glynn informed the meeting each community alert/neighbourhood watch group in the North Inishowen Area (Carndonagh, Malin, Malin Head, Culdaff, Gleneely, Clonmany) would now be allocated a Garda liaison officer and the plan was that these groups would meet regularly with their allocated Garda to highlight and deal with the issues pertaining to that local community. Superintendant Glynn commended the local community alert groups for their good work in seeking to protect the community following the burglaries in the area and highlighted that there were many other issues and concerns that arise in a community that could be resolved and dealt with more effectively with the local community and Gardai working together more closely. At the moment it is planned to proceed with a policing forum for the North Inishowen Area and at a later date policing forums may be rolled out in other areas of the peninsula. Inishowen Community Forum for the past few years has had bi annual meetings with the Superintendant to highlight policing issues for the peninsula and is currently facilitating with the organisation and setting up of the policing forum for North Inishowen. If you require further information on the Policing Forum contact Inishowen Community Forum at Malin Road Carndonagh, telephone 074 9329888. Email inishowencf@eircom.net