Community policing issue

THE ISSUE of community policing was raised at Wicklow Joint Policing Committee with Cllr Shay Cullen asking if the text alert schemes across the county were having a positive impact on detection rates.

‘Most rural areas are served by text alert,’ he said. ‘Is it having any input?’

Chief Superintendent John Paul Quirke said that the system has proven to be very effective and encouraged the public to report incidents of concern.

He reminded the public that crime can be reported online as well as through garda stations and the Garda Confidential Line.

He indicated that he would soon be interviewing for community officers in Wicklow, who would be tasked with linking in with the planned direct provision centre.

Cllr Cullen also raised a concern about road safety where cyclists are concerned.

He shared the view that neither cyclists or motorists who each other respect on the roads and said that he feared an accident would happen.

‘We will have to tackle this. It’s far too serious to turn a blind eye,’ he said.

Chief Supt Quirke said that the road safety message here is ‘slowly getting across’.