Sharp increase in demand for text alert services

NEW figures have revealed that demand for Garda text alert schemes are at an all time high, with almost 14,000 people across Cork City and County signing up to a service.

The figures, released by the Garda Crime Prevention National Centre of Excellence, have shown that in the North Cork Garda division alone some 7,202 people have subscribed to the 51 text alert schemes currently in operation across the region.

The growth in the number of subscribers is a reflection of the national trend, which has seen the number of people using the scheme had more than doubled over the past three years.

As of April this year, some 191,181 people were subscribed to the 1,085 schemes in operation across the State – compared to 80,000 registered users in April 2014.

Under the text alert service, set up in conjunction with Munitir na Tíre and Neighbourhood Watch, subscribers that have signed up through one of the many available community schemes receive alerts from the Gardai advising them of suspicious activity in their local area.

The service, a support to existing community crime prevention programmes, has also been put to other users. For example, an elderly lady with dementia who went missing in Dublin was located after at text alert appealing to the local community for help was sent by local Gardai.

Sergeant Amanda Flood from the Centre of Excellence said the increasing popularity of the scheme was a direct result of a “concerted drive by An Garda Síochána” to raise awareness of the initiative.

“The initiative has gone from strength-tostrength as more communities realise the value of setting up a scheme in their area. It gives people a sense of ownership in their area and its growth is testament to the effectiveness of the service,” said Sgt Flood.

“An Garda Síochána’s close relationship with communities and the support we get from them is vital in preventing and tackling crime, particularly in rural areas. This is an excellent example of how working in partnership with these communities can achieve results,” she added.

Patrick Walsh of Neighbourhood Watch said the effectiveness of the scheme was reflected by the fall in burglary rates.