This article is from page 16 of the 2011-03-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THE head of the Clare Garda Division has pledged to set up Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert Schemes in every pocket of the county.
These programmes, along with Business Watch schemes, are springing up all over the county and Chief Superintendent John Kerin is promising to continue to expand the initiative.
Currently there are 47 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Clare, 11 of which were established last year. There are 37 Community Alert schemes in the county, two of which were set up last year, while two new schemes are currently being established. There are nine Business Watch schemes in Clare, five of which were set up in 2010. Two new schemes are in the process of being set up. Gardaí are also involved in a Hospital Watch scheme in Ennis. The aim under the schemes is that neighbouring families and neighbouring businesses link up with each other in an effort to prevent crime.
“Our ideal objective would be to have a Community Alert scheme in every rural part of the county and to have a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in every town and several in bigger towns. That would be our hope and our ambition. Two and three parish- es have joined in some areas,” said Chief Superintendent Kerin.
“It is one of my objectives to have as many Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and Business Watch schemes as possible in the county. They are crime prevention and crime solving measures. They are our eyes and ears as resources dwindle in the coming years,” he added.
“Right across the county, it is essential to have schemes like this. It is amazing the amount of crime solved in the past couple of months by people ringing in to the Garda stations. There can’t be a garda on every street corner. A lot can be prevented by vigilance,” he said.
Two Business Watch schemes were set up in Shannon last year, in an effort to curb the theft of machinery from various businesses. Businesses in the industrial estate got involved in the schemes and are working well together. “More than 120 businesses are involved. They have been very successful,” he said.
“There has been an escalation in the theft of copper and lead throughout Ireland. There was a huge escalation in the theft of home heating oil and arrests have been made,” he added.
“It is all about people keeping an eye out for each other. It’s amazing how people can help us and help themselves and help their communities,” he said.