JPC will lead to reduction in crime level, says McKenna

Cllr Ronan McKenna, who was last week appointed chairman of the newly-established Trim Joint Policing Committee (JPC), has said his aim is to ensure that the new committee contributes to reducing crime and to the development of Trim so that it is a town that is peaceful to live in and a good place to do business. The JPC will provide a forum where Trim Town Council members, Oireachtas members and community interests can meet with senior local Garda officers responsible for the policing of Trim, to discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area. Cllr McKenna said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the first chairman of the Trim Joint Policing Committee. In that role, I am committed to taking a proactive role, building a strong relationship between the community and An Garda Siochana. “We are very lucky to have a generally peaceful and law-abiding town but, without a major effort, it will not always remain so because of the inevitable problems which can arise in a time of economic recession. A forum like this is vital to help us anticipate this and build the necessary relationships to deal with them when they arise. “Because we have such a wealth of experience and enthusiasm among the members of the committee, I have no doubt that we will be able to achieve this goal,†he said. Cllr McKenna said that active Joint Policing Committees throughout Ireland have made a very worthwhile contribution to the communities and this new committee is a very important link between the community and An Garda Siochanna. “I will work with the members to ensure that we provide access to other organisations and groups representing all sections of our community in Trim and that we have access to Drug Task Forces, Fás, health and welfare services in the county. Superintendent Mary Gormley and her team are committed to active community relations. Our committee's job will be to make sure that the same level of enthusiasm comes from all sections of the community – residents, young people, senior citizens and businesses,†he said. Starting in 2006, the committees were established on a pilot basis in 29 local authority areas. Following evaluation of the pilot phase, the roll-out of committees to all of the 114 city, county and town council areas was put in train in September 2008. The committees are required to make an annual report of their activities to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and this allows for monitoring of the progress being made by committees and consideration of the key issues which emerges from the work of the groups.