Community urged to help in crime battle
Public urged to report crimes and help gardai with investigations
The Joint Policing Committee meeting which took place in Bray recently.
Members of the public were urged to work with gardai in the fight against crime at a recent public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Bray.
The purpose of the meeting, which was attended by members of the gardaí and Wicklow County Council and which took place on Wednesday, October 18, was to give the community a forum in which they could make their views known, ask questions and share their concerns in relation to the prevention of crime in their area.
The meeting was very well attended and those present heard about the specialist services provided by gardai in the Bray District and the partnership between the gardai, the community and Wicklow County Council in tackling crime.
Superintendent Pat Ward gave a presentation to the meeting on the level and pattern of crime in the area and the work of the gardaí as regards crime prevention. Cllr Jim Ruttle, who chaired the meeting, complimented the work of the gardaí and referred to the excellent ongoing work by the sub-committees of the JPC in the areas of policing communities, tackling crime in rural areas, drug prevention and communications.
He said that the 'value of public meetings and the JPC in reaching out to engage with communities cannot be undervalued' and he thanked the people of Ballywaltrim for their interest in contributing to the process. 'The message from the JPC to the community is that policing should not be left solely to the gardaí but is a matter for all,' he said.
Members of the public were encouraged by the gardaí to be proactive in reporting crime and were asked for their co-operation with crime prevention in their area. The gardaí also reminded people about the Wicklow Garda Youth Awards 2017, an initiative to recognise the great work being done by young people in every community throughout County Wicklow. Award nominations should be returned to Emma Skinner, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Bray Garda Station, by December 4.
