Community Engagement Day 31/1/20 - All Welcome

Friday 31st January 2020, An Garda Síochána are inviting local communities to a ‘meet and greet’ opportunity at over 300 venues across Ireland. Local Gardaí, IFA branch representatives and representatives from community groups involved in the National Rural Safety Forum will engage with the local community. It is an opportunity for the local community to get to know their local Gardaí and local community representatives. All are welcome.

Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin, Garda Community Relations Bureau said:

“An Garda Síochána is delighted to partner with our key stakeholders in the National Rural Safety Forum in organising a National Community Engagement Day.  This event will provide an opportunity for communities across Ireland to meet and become familiar with their local Gardaí and other Community Organisation representatives.

An Garda Síochána will take this opportunity to listen to the policing needs of our communities so that we can continue to deliver on our mission – Keeping People Safe.”

Details of the location, venue and timing of local engagement opportunities are available by county:

This National Community Engagement Day is designed to achieve the collaborative objective of increased community engagement and community reassurance throughout Ireland.

This National Community Engagement Day is kindly supported by members of CSNA (Convenience Stores & Newsagents Association) and RGDATA (Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trade Association) nationally.

Background to National Rural Safety Forum:

The National Rural Safety Forum was established, following stakeholder consultation between An Garda Síochána and key partners such as the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and Muintir na Tire, to provide a platform for a collaborative partnership approach to support the delivery of a rural community policing service.  The Forum held its inaugural meeting on 17th April 2019.

The following are the partners involved in the National Rural Safety Forum:

An Garda Síochána
ICSA (Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association)
AFI (Age Friendly Ireland)
IFA (Irish Farmers Association)
Foróige
ICA (Irish Country Women’s Association
Muintir Na Tire
CCMA (City & County Managers Association)
Department of Justice and Equality
Active Retirement Ireland
Department of Community & Rural Development
NTA (National Transport Authority)
GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)
Macra Na Feirme
Neighbourhood Watch
ESB Networks

The launch of the National Rural Safety Forum took place on the 18th September 2019 at the National Ploughing Championships, in Co. Carlow at 12.30pm by Minister Flanagan.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland Report recommended:

• “…consultation among agencies to determine how they can all work together to serve the best interest of people at risk and the community as a whole.”  
• “Policing …. [is] not the responsibility of the police alone”. 
• “At the local level, policing partnerships should include the business community, voluntary organisations, faith based groups, schools and others who can contribute to community safety” 

The National Rural Safety Forum has four key objectives:

• Community Reassurance
• Information Sharing & Communication Network
• Increased Community Engagement
• Crime Prevention & Crime Opportunity Reduction

Vincent Jennings, CEO, CSNA.

“The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA) welcomes this worthwhile initiative and we would like to commend all parties involved in National Community Engagement Day which our members will be supporting fully. CSNA represents over 1,500 convenience store owners, newsagents and forecourt operators nationwide, many of whom are based in rural Ireland where we believe this initiative will be most effective indeed. Our commitment to supporting our members on all matters security and otherwise in their local communities is unwavering. With the support of An Garda Síochána, the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the National Rural Safety Forum, our association will endeavour to engage with and support local communities nationwide to strive for a safer Ireland.”

Tara Buckley Director General RGDATA.

“RGDATA members operate shops and supermarkets in every town, village and community throughout Ireland and are happy to support this initiative to bring local people together with the Gardaí to work together to make our communities safer and to tackle criminal and anti-social behaviour,”

IFA Deputy President Richard Kennedy, IFA Crime and Security spokesperson

“The National Community Engagement Day is a great example of the cooperation between the public and An Garda Síochána. It is crucial that we all work together to serve the best interests of people at risk in rural communities and the National Community Engagement Day is a perfect example of this. IFA is delighted to be working with An Garda Síochána on this great initiative and are urging all communities to come out on the 31st of January to make it a memorable day.”