Joint Policing Committee Minutes
Minutes of The Meeting of The County Sligo Joint Policing Committee Held on Friday 16th December 2022 at 10.30 A.M. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo & Via Ms Teams
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady, Chairperson
- Councillor Marie Casserly, Vice-Chairperson
- Councillor Donal Gilroy
- Councillor Sinead Maguire
- Councillor Dara Mulvey via MS Teams
- Deputy Marian Harkin T.D. via MS Teams
- Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council
- Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council (via MS Teams)
- Chief Superintendent, Aidan Glacken, An Garda Síochána
- Amanda Gaynor, Superintendent, An Garda Síochána
- Padraic Burke, Superintendent, An Garda Síochána
- John Moran, A/Director of Services, Sligo County Council
- Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
- David Tuffy, Sligo PPN (via MS Teams)
APOLOGIES:
- Councillor Martin Connolly
- Councillor Thomas Healy
- Councillor Gerard Mullaney
- Councillor Gino O’ Boyle
- Eugene McCaffrey, Sligo PPN
- Gail McGibbon, Sligo PPN
- Vanessa Clarke, Sligo PPN
CHAIRPERSON:
Chairperson, Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady presided and welcomed all present in the Council Chamber and online to the meeting.
1. TO CONFIRM MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 30th SEPTEMBER 2022:
Proposed by Councillor M. Casserly
Seconded by Councillor D. Mulvey
AND AGREED
“To confirm minutes of meeting of County Sligo JPC held on 30th September 2022.”
2. MATTERS ARISING:
There were no matters arising.
3. SLIGO JPC STRATEGIC PLAN 2017-2022 (UPDATE ON ACTIONS):
Sligo JPC Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022
Chief Superintendent Glacken referred to the updates available in the Strategic Plan which was circulated to Members prior to the meeting.
Chief Superintendent Glacken gave updates as follows:
Sligo Crime Figures (as of 12.12.22) :
- Burglaries are down 11% from 80 to 71
- Intoxicated Driving a Vehicle Detections are up 15% from 66 to 76
- Criminal Damage Incidents are down 20% from 236 to 202
- MIT Checkpoints are up 86% from 855 to 1589
- There were 5 fatal traffic collisions in 2022, an increase of 400%
Organised Crime:
- 14 x persons have been arrested and detained to date:
- 1 x person charged with the offence of directing a Criminal Organisation, charged before the Special Criminal Court
- 2 x persons charged with offences of enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation, money laundering offences and criminal damage
- 2 x persons charged with possession of articles used in connection with drug trafficking offences.
- 1 x person charged with offences contrary to Firearms Acts
- 8 x Files are in the course of preparation and submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Drugs Seizures Co. Sligo 2022 - €251,706.00
- Cash Seizures arising from Drugs Seizures Co Sligo 2022 - €99,355.00
- A prominent gang in the Sligo area was disbanded
Community Stories:
- Property Marking Events – there were 12 events held over 2022 including Q4
- Roads Policing Winter Action Plan was launched on 01.11.22 - 02.01.23 (Awareness on Road Safety and Lifesaver Offences)
- Lock Up and Light Up - Community Policing and CPO held a number of visits in November and December to elderly/vulnerable people on the elderly/vulnerable register
- Garda Policing Plans – Community Workshops were held in November/December
- 3 recent meetings were held with groups in North Sligo, South Sligo and Sligo Town, positive feedback was received from communities
- Diversity Strategy – Gardai attended a Remembrance Service held by the Sligo Branch of the Indian Association of Ireland
- DVAS – In December, Gardai worked with DVAS on a 16 Day of Action Awareness Against Gender Based Violence – A number of events were held throughout Sligo and Leitrim
- 11.22 Gardai worked with DVAS and CYPSC and launched a DVAS information booklet which AGS will give to each victim of a Domestic Violence incident as part of their 7 day call-backs
- A talk on Cybercrime was given to 200 students from 1st to 3rd Year in the Ursuline College Sligo re: cyberbullying and online communications
- National Youth Awards – there was one national winner from the Sligo/Leitrim Division
- SATU Workshop –Garda attended a joint SATU & DPSU training workshop on Tuesday 06.12.2022
- Age Action – there was an Elderly Group outing to Ballina in December 2022
- Hospital Watch – a lot of work has been carried out in the last number of months to create a Hospital Watch – this will be launched on 19.01.2023
- A 3-day Transition Year Programme was held in November – 20 + local students participated in the programme
Councillor O’ Grady, thanked Chief Superintendent Glacken for his comprehensive update and complimented him on the huge scope of work being carried out by An Garda Siochana on a day-to-day basis. The Hospital Watch initiative and support for frontline workers was especially welcomed.
Members conveyed their thanks on the comprehensive scope of the work and commented as follows:
- Community Engagement through the Community Workshops was seen as being very positive
- There was great feedback from Community Events held in West Sligo – there was a good cross section of Garda present, it was a worthwhile exercise with compliments being paid to the team – this event improved visibility of An Garda Siochana in the locality
- Positive feedback from community events held in North Sligo – it was evident that people knew An Garda Siochana personnel who are greatly appreciated in the community
- The number of gangs currently operating in Sligo was queried
- Addressing visibility of An Garda Síochána – what is being done?
- Issue of consent re: Cybercrime and Young People – can this be included in the next plan?
- DVAS – what were the daily numbers for call outs? 16 Days events are very effective – 7-day callbacks are very welcome
- Superintendents Gaynor and Burke were thanked for their support for the Samaritan Campaign
- Road Safety – Drink/Drug Driving is an issue and creates problems in A&E Departments
Action: Members requested that a letter of congratulations be sent to Amy Keogh re: the National Youth Awards
Chief Superintendent Glacken welcomed the feedback and thanked all personnel who met with the communities during the Community Engagement event. An Garda Siochana are committed to increasing visibility of the force which is a balance between commitments and resources. There are five organised gangs identified in Sligo. Hospital Watch is an important initiative, drugs do play a big part in the issues being faced by frontline staff.
There is a commitment to a Schools Programme on Cyberbullying, consent is a big issue. Societal change is required to highlight and identify what is acceptable, cultural awareness also needs to be included. Sexploitation is a very challenging issue at present. DVAS and CYPSC are excellent organisations and partnership work with them is ongoing.
Domestic Violence (DV) – Chief Superintendent Glacken acknowledgement that it is a big step for a person to report DV – Sligo DV motive related incidents are down this year.
4. NOTICE RECEIVED OF ISSUES TO BE RAISED:
(a) (Deferred from September Meeting) Received from Councillor T. Healy:
“To call on the Garda to carry out a speed check on the R290 from Collooney to Ballisodare and on the Ballisodare to Crowna Church on the N59. Both are a major concern to residents regarding speed coming into Ballisodare village”
This motion was deferred in the absence of Councillor Healy.
(b) Received from Councillor T. Healy:
“To ask if all Garda Stations and Garda patrol cars have defibrillators in them? As this is an important part of First Aid that can save a life in a community or on the side of the road when Garda are on duty. Is training given to all Garda on the use of a defibrillator and how this can save a life?”
This motion was deferred in the absence of Councillor Healy.
(c) Received from Councillor M. Casserly:
“That this JPC write to the Minister for Justice for more strict and appropriate sentences in cases of assaulting members of An Garda Síochána”
This motion was seconded by Councillor S. Maguire.
Councillor Casserly stated that more strict and appropriate sentencing in cases of assaulting members of An Garda Síochána was required. Sentencing in relation to assaults on Gardaí goes to the core of the fact that Gardaí, for the most part are unarmed, and police with the consent of the people. This is almost unique in a world where firearms have become a normal part of other societies. There is a societal duty to protect the people who put their own safety on the line to protect the population, often in the face of grave danger.
This is also in light of the attacks recently on guards in the Clondalkin area.
Councillor Casserly continued and stated that “we only have to look down the list of 89 Gardai killed in the line of duty to see the consequences. Mr. Adrian Donohoe and Mr. Gerry McCabe were killed by republican terrorists, Robbie McCallion, Colm Horkan and many more deserve to have their memories protected by the full rigours of the law being applied to people who assault their colleagues. Today is also the anniversary of Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Kelly who were murdered at Ballinamore on this day in 1983 and they are remembered today”.
Councillor S. Maguire concurred and stated that members of An Garda Siochana experience a shocking level of violence while on duty. Stricter sentences were required, along with a clear message from The Courts. Having an unarmed force was seen as a positive.
Chief Superintendent Glacken acknowledged and respected the independence of the Judicial System. There were 7 injuries in 2022, Garda in the Sligo/Leitrim Division had been spat at and bitten while on duty recently, one Garda had their nose broken. Four other assaults on Garda resulting in bites, leg injuries and a broken nose. Sometimes this violence resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.
Councillor D. Gilroy stated that attacks on any frontline workers was unacceptable and he acknowledged the great courage that had been shown by all in Ballinamore in 1983.
Councillor D. Mulvey supported the motion and stated that it was well timed.
Deputy Marian Harkin T.D. concurred with the motion and highlighted the increasing difficulty there was in the retention and recruitment of Garda personnel. This was a serious issue and Garda needed to be able to feel safe.
(d)Received from Councillor D. Mulvey:
“To ask if the ASK FOR ANGELA initiative can be relaunched for this festive season in Co Sligo.
Dating and meeting people has changed so much in recent years. A person speaks with someone online; They meet them in a bar or restaurant, and they are not who you thought they were!! They may wish to get out of there but are not sure what to do. "Ask For Angela" is the code word- just say it to a member of staff and they will ensure you will be safe and able to get out of a situation discreetly.
Can information be circulated to people who work in bars, hotels, cafes, restaurants, door staff, fast food outlet's, nightclubs etc.”
Councillor D. Mulvey acknowledged the following response from Ms. G. McGibbon, Sligo BID which had been circulated to members prior to the meeting. Councillor Mulvey stressed the importance of this initiative, particularly at this time of the year.
Response received from Ms. G. McGibbon,
The Sligo Ask for Angela Campaign would like to thank Councillor Mulvey for his interest in the Sligo Ask for Angela campaign, which we are keen to roll out at the earliest possible time.
It is important that this is done in a careful and systematic way. Given the serious nature of sexual violence and harassment, night-time venue staff must first be trained to understand the issue and to provide an appropriate response to anyone seeking help. While the pandemic has unfortunately caused us a substantial delay, we are working with the Sligo BID and ATU to rollout the campaign.
We have developed a draft training guide with input from the gardaí and sexual/domestic violence experts, which we will pilot with two pubs (one small and one large). Once the pilots have been conducted, we will finalise the training based on the feedback received and then roll out the campaign across Sligo night-time venues. We have been in contact with a number of pubs to secure the date/s for the pilot, which we hope to conduct before Christmas, with the roll-out taking place in the New Year. This process will ensure stakeholder buy-in and sustainability of the campaign.
Councillor D. Gilroy highlighted the importance of getting involved with students in the ATU regarding this initiative, particularly 1st Year students.
Chief Superintendnt Glacken informed the members that it is hoped to launch the Ask for Angela initiaitive in this Division in 2023.
5. CORRESPONDENCE:
There was no correspondence.
6. NOTICE RECEIVED OF ISSUES TO BE RAISED:
(a) Referred for discussion from November’s Plenary Council Meeting – Councillor D. Gilroy’s Motion No. 19 -
“That Sligo County Council report to members on how many road traffic collisions have occurred since the completion of the N4/N15 Sligo Urban Improvement Scheme on the N15 at the point north of the junction where two lanes are reduced to one before Circle K and to clearly identify which lane has priority at this merger as many road users appear to have different understandings of who should give way.”
Figures are to be presented at the next meeting.
(b)Referred for discussion from December’s Plenary Council Meeting – Councillor T. Walsh’s Motion No. 28 –
“That Sligo County Council calls on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to provide the necessary resources in terms of Gardai and appropriate vehicles to the Sligo Roads Policing Unit. That the same be relayed also to the Taoiseach and Tanaiste”.
This was deferred in the absence of Councillor T. Walsh
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEXT MEETINGS:
Dates for meetings in 2023 were agreed as follows:
- Friday 31st March
- Friday 30th June
- Friday 29th September
- Friday 19th December
All meetings will commence at 10.30am.
8. A.O.B:
Mr. J. Moran gave an update on the Community Text Alert Scheme - one tender received arising from the tender process is being reviewed.
Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a Happy Christmas.
The business of the meeting concluded at 11.10am.
Meeting Date 16/12/2022