Trim policing group reveals crime action plan

Trim's Joint Policing Committee (JPC) met on Tuesday of last week to finalise its main objectives for fighting crime in the town. The JPC draft action plan for April 2011 to March 2012, which from today (Wednesday) is on public display, focuses on three key areas in the town: "anti-social behaviour/estate management/safer neighbourhoods, the establishment of CCTV in the town, and effective communication in communities to aid crime prevention". The key stakeholders involved are Trim Gardai, Trim Town Council and various community groups up to and including residents' associations and Trim Tidy Towns committee. Trim JPC, however, is bound by the electoral area of the town council, meaning that some residential areas will be outside of its remit. However, JPC chairman Cllr Ronan McKenna said that people outside of the urban boundary can still bring issues to the attention of the JPC. "Some issues will have to be for the county council but we are willing to work for those people (outside of the boundary) and take their issues on board and make sure that they are followed up on by the relevant bodies," he said. "Trim Gardai would have a larger area than the town council, so the majority of those issues would go to the county council while still being within Trim Gardai's remit...be that if they want a walkway opened or closed or if street lighting or cameras are needed and so on," he said. The draft plan states that while the concerns already outlined are priorities, they also pledge to "monitor and review serious crime, drug supply and public order" and "promote the work of the An Garda Síochána". It adds: "During the working group process, concerns were highlighted regarding feeling safe, levels of drinking in public, congregation in estates, vehicles speeding, breaches of road traffic laws, quality of life and drugs misuse." Trim Garda Superintendent Mary Gormley said it is important that people and the Gardai have a mechanism to communicate with each other. "It's important that people have a forum in which to raise issues and it's my job to respond to the issues raised. Gardai don't police own their own and it's also very important that people know that I'm accessible and that the Gardai are accessible to the people of Trim," she said. The JPC will meet at least quarterly to review progress and to try to develop its work further. Meetings are open to the public and are advertised in advance. Some meetings, however, may take place in private - for example, when the members consider and decide upon public submissions to the draft plan, which is on display at the Trim area office from today (Wednesday 13th April) for four weeks after which there will be a two-week submission period before the JPC goes 'into committee'. Trim JPC also wants to link up with other already established meath policing committees - Meath JPC and Navan JPC - and will establish a similar line of co-operation with Kells JPC when it comes into operation in the near future.