PRESS RELEASE24/05/2005 Appoint assistant Garda commissioner for community policing - Kelleher Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher wants an assistant Garda commissioner for community policing appointed within the year in an effort to get cross-sectional society more involved in tackling anti-social behaviour. He said the appointment was proposed in a recent report from the the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights and must be followed up quickly to show that the Garda is serious about bringing its full resources to bear on nuisance crime. ‘A clearly defined and appropriately resourced community policing career structure should be developed within the Garda Síochána to reflect the importance of community policing. ‘I want to see this appointment made within the year as a statement of unbending intent by the Garda. We have reached a stage now where anti-social behaviour - from boy-racers to noisy neighbours - has become the enduring social epidemic of our time. ‘It is time to dedicate a specific unit in the Garda to community policing and head it up with a specially designated assistant Garda commissioner,’ said Deputy Kelleher, who is the Government deputy chief whip. He said local joint policing committees should embrace community representatives, the voluntary sector, business and trades union representatives, gardaí and local authorities. ‘They must be backed up by State rehabilitation agencies and community support. We must adopt a holistic approach to crime and I will be bringing my concerns directly to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell,’ said Deputy Kelleher.
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