This article is from page 36 of the 2008-04-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
‘BE alert, be involved’ was the mes- sage at the launch of the Ballybeg Community Alert scheme.
Clare’s top ranking Gardai urged communities to support the new partnership initiative, launched in the West County Hotel on Wednesday.
A joint initiative between residents and local Community Guard Den- nis Collins, the Ballybeg Commu- nity Alert scheme is the first to be launched in Clare.
Representatives of community groups in Quin, Sixmilebridge, Lis- sycasey and Crusheen were also in attendance and it is hoped similar schemes will be established in those Kersh
Addressing what he termed the changing dynamic of Irish society,
head of the Clare Garda division, Chief Supt Gerry Mahon, said local communities have an important role to play in crime prevention.
He said, “I would ask that people to be aware of what is going in their own community. We are not asking people to snoop, just to be reasonably conscious of their own safety.”
Chief Supt Mahon continued, “Irish society has changed so much, there are a lot of new dynamics. We have new communities coming in, different cultures, and people aren’t interacting in maybe the way they used to. It has left a gap, particularly in daylight hours. It can leave elderly people vulnerable.
“We are not being overly demand- ing, just asking people to be con- scious of people that need help in their community. It’s down to a few
at the end of the day.”
Supt John Scanlon of Ennis Garda Station urged closer links between the gardai and community groups.
‘Things are good in Clare but from time to time you will have people coming in and doing burglaries. If we get a heads up about suspicious behaviour, we can prevent it. The main problems we are dealing with are burglaries in homes, a small bit of anti-social behaviour and break- ins to cars”.
Supt Scanlon added that an extra community guard would soon be al- located to Ennis.
Garda Dennis Collins said, “We have had great interest in the scheme since last August. Ballybeg has to have one of the most pro-active com- mittees in Clare. It has led to people getting to know each other better and
closer contact with the Gardai.”
Crime Prevention Officer Joe Downey said, “This is about being active, being involved and being alert. It is a joint, co-coordinated and structured approach to crime preven- tion. This doesn’t have to die after this meeting. We want you to bring this message back to your commu- ia Ae
The Community Alert programme was established by Muintir Na Tire in 1984 in partnership with An Garda Siochana, with the aim of providing an effective Community Policing and Crime Prevention Network.
There are now 1250 community alert groups throughout the country.
Bernard Kearney of Muintir Na Tire urged the new committee to publish a regular newsletter and avail of Government funding.