Community Policing Forum Seminar - ‘Reform and Renewal’
A Seminar ‘Reform and Renewal’ will be held today, Saturday, the 5th November 2011 in Croke Park to develop the structure and programme operating in the Community Policing Forum.
The CPF which was established in the North Inner City and some of its aims and objectives are:
• To co-ordinate a common Community / Garda strategy against drug pushing and Anti-Social Behaviour.
• To reduce local fears and address concerns in relation to anti-social behaviour.
• To promote community development, particularly in relation to the drug problem and to help improve the quality of life for local residents.
Participants at the seminar will review the operation of the CPF and will consider international best practice treatment, policing and partnership responses to community policing. The overall objective of the seminar is to identify practical recommendations which will enhance policing approaches and prevent the growth of the drug market and related harm.
Launching the seminar, As Chief Executive of Dublin City Council, John Tierney is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the council. He also has responsibility for the implementation of council decisions. John works with your elected representatives (Councillors) and council staff to implement Dublin City Council's vision for a creative and sustainable city.
The chairperson of the Board of Management Fergus Mc Cabe stated the CPF was established at a time related to the 1980s and 1990s when inner city communities felt isolated and traumatised by widespread heroin abuse. There was open drug dealing on the streets and many drug related deaths.
Johnny Connolly, criminologist and lead author of the HRB says; There is growing evidence that a partnership approach where all stakeholders work together offers the most sustainable method of responding to street-level drug markets, which is why the approach being taken by the CPF is a step in the right direction to tackling the problem in Dublin.
Quotes
• The late chairperson Tony Gregory: we believe that the CPF is an exceptional community driven response to the Drugs Crisis.
• Community Rep: Mary Mc Cann I have been involved with the CPF since it was set up as a pilot project in 1999 because of anti-social behaviour in the North East Inner City and the amount of drugs being sold and the amount of children who were dying from using drugs.
• Assistant Commissioner Mick Feehan: The CPF continues to be one of the most effective means through which we in the Garda organisation can communicate with you the people who live and work in the north inner city. A huge amount of work has been done over the years by the people involved in the CPF, in building relationships and two way communication channels between the community and the Gardaí. Without the Forum, the work of the Gardaí in this area would be made that much more difficult and the service which we provide to the community would be less capable of reflecting their priorities.
• Former Dublin City Manager John Fitzgerald; The CPF is a very good and successful example of partnership working between relevant state agencies and the community and it is an indication of such successes that the new Garda Act will put these types of structures on a formal level throughout the country.
For further information contact Fergus Mc Cabe 087 6500253
Marie Metcalfe 086 8740292
Peter O’Connor 087 6481732
CPF Board of Management;
Fergus Mc Cabe (NDST) Chairperson
Superintendent Sean Ward
Charlie Lowe (Dublin City Council Area Manager)
Chris Butler (DCC Housing Manager)
Mary Mc Cann (Community Representative)
Gerry Fay (Community Representative)
Christopher Mc Auley (Youth Representative)
Nial Ring (Councillor)
Ray Mc Adam (Councillor)
Garda Press Office
