ICSA call for extra resources for community policing initiatives at Joint Oireachtas Committee On Justice and Equality

“People in rural Ireland are living in fear and that it’s time to prioritise the fight against crime and time to deliver enough resources to the gardaí.” 

The ICSA rural development chairman Seamus Sherlock made the comments while addressing the issue of Community Policing and Rural Crime before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality this morning.

“There is no substitute for having gardaí on the ground. 

“We need communities to be on first name terms with gardaí. 

“The ICSA are concerned that restrictions on garda overtime are affecting the ability to fight crime and to be on the case rapidly. 

“We want to see a higher garda presence in rural areas, and the ability to respond to calls for help as fast as possible.

“The feeling among many is that it is better to call your neighbour than to call the gardaí when you feel threatened.” 

He said farmers are spending money trying to make their premises more secure but that these solutions are not cheap. 

Mr Sherlock added, however, that rural communities were willing to play their part in combating crime through community policing initiatives, but that such initiatives were in need of more resources.

“The ICSA are also concerned that criminals who continuously re-offend get treated too lightly by the criminal justice system. 

“Too often, we see crime committed by individuals who should be in jail. 

“We want to see stiffer sentencing for repeat offenders. 

“The purpose of the criminal justice system should also be about protecting innocent people in their homes.” 

Mr Sherlock was also critical of the CCTV scheme introduced to assist communities with installing cameras locally as a crime deterrent. 

The initiative has proved overly cumbersome for communities to engage with, which has resulted in a low up-take. 

“An urgent review needs to be carried out at this stage to see how local communities can be further assisted with utilising the scheme. 

“Of particular importance is clarification as to whether the gardaí or local authorities are responsible managing the footage collected.”