Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The Government's National Recovery Plan 2011-2014 calls for a higher priority to be attached to community policing. Such policing lies at the heart of policing in Ireland. This point has been emphasised by the Garda Commissioner and endorsed by the Garda Inspectorate. It has informed the development of the recent Garda national model of community policing. This model, which has now been rolled out to all Garda districts nationwide, aims at building upon and enhancing good community policing practice. There will be a community policing team in each district which will be headed up by a sergeant. Clear objectives will be set, such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public, and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies such as neighbourhood watch, community alert and business watch. The model recognises the need for dedicated community police officers and, on the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 1,145 such gardaí. It is also worth emphasising, as the model does, that all gardaí have a role to play in community policing.

This enhanced community policing service will be monitored closely by the Commissioner and his senior management team and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure the best possible service is provided to the public. The Commissioner will have my full support in this development of community policing and I will take a keen interest in its progression. I have long been a believer in the efficacy of community policing, both in providing protection to local communities and in facilitating such communities to develop relationships with the members of the force in their areas.

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