The chairman of a policing forum aimed at promoting greater dialogue between members of the community and gardaí has urged the Government to establish similar structures around the State.
Tony Gregory TD, chairman of the Community Policing Forum in Dublin's north-east inner-city, said that the new structure had helped with tackling social problems and had increased drug seizures and improved the relationship between locals and gardaí.
"There was a perception before the forum was set up that it was not possible to contact senior gardaí and that they were not responding properly to issues on the ground," Mr Gregory said.
"Now there is much better access and dialogue with police and there are whole networks of committees from streets and flats in the area that work with gardaí and city council officials."He added: "It is something which should be extended to other areas. It is the way policing should be done. It is by no means perfect, but it has made a significant impact."
Official figures show that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of drug seizures in the north-east inner city compared to other parts of the capital in recent years. Mr Gregory said that this was due in part to the work of the forum. The forum was established on foot of recommendations from an inter-agency drugs project to help combat drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour. It is likely that the results of its activities will feed into plans for the establishment of joint policing committees, provided for under new legislation.
In the north-east inner city, a total of 28 local committees represent residents of flat complexes and streets linked to the community policing forum. Each committee arranges meetings with gardaí as issues arise, while wider forum meetings are held every three months, which all the committees may attend. Senior gardaí, local authority officials and public representatives attend the meetings.
The forum's annual report, which was published last night, states: "The message is that these agencies must be held accountable to the community. Issues of concern that have not been properly addressed, along with new issues, are then raised and responded to."
Chief Supt Mick Feehan said that the forum had become one of the most effective means through which the Garda communicated with people in the inner city.