Joint Policing Committee Minutes

Minutes of Meeting of The County Sligo Joint Policing Committee Held On Friday 24th June 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 Arthur Gibbons
  • Councillor Tom Fox
  • Councillor Gino O’Boyle
  • Councillor Martin Connolly (via MS Teams)
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney (via MS Teams)
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey (via MS Teams)
  • Councillor Donal Gilroy (via MS Teams)
  • Deputy Marian Harkin T.D (via MS Teams)
  • Chief Superintendent, Aidan Glacken, An Garda Síochána
  • Amanda Gaynor, Superintendent, An Garda Síochána
  • Padraic Burke, Superintendent, An Garda Síochána
  • Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council
  • Jim Molloy, Director of Services, Sligo County Council
  • Kevin Colreavy, Administrative Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Jane Golden, Staff Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Eugene McCaffrey, Sligo PPN
  • Gail McGibbon, Sligo PPN
  • David Tuffy, Sligo PPN (via MS Teams)

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officer, Sligo County Council
  • Vanessa Clarke, Sligo PPN

 

CHAIRPERSON:

The Chairperson, Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady presided and welcomed all present to the meeting.

 

1. TO CONFIRM MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON  25th MARCH 2022:

Proposed by Councillor M. Casserly
Seconded by Councillor G. O’ Boyle

AND AGREED

“To confirm minutes of meeting of County Sligo JPC held on 25th  March 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

An update on Crime Figures was given as follows:

  • Burglaries are down 18% from 28 to 23
  • Thefts are down 13% from 76 to 82
  • Criminal Damage Incidents are down 49% from 114 to 77
  • MIT Checkpoints are up 1493% from 54 to 860
  • There was also an increase in public order offences and minor assaults as society reopens after Covid 19

Some updates in the JPC Strategic Workplan included:

  • Garda Diversity Officers – Twenty-two Gardai were trained as Diversity Officers in May. There were guest speakers from the Irish Wheelchair Association, Sligo Travellers Support Group, Sligo Islamic Centre, LGBT Ireland, and the Garda National Diversity Office
  • Open Community Clinic – a Community Clinic is being held every Monday at Collooney Garda Station
  • Text Alert - Launch of the Community Text Alert in Collooney and Ballinacarrow on 20th May
  • Cyber Crime Youth Initiative - A working group has been set up to create a Schools Cyber Crime Education Piece for 12–15 year olds. The timeline is December 2022
  • Property marking initiatives were conducted in Rosses Point and Enniscrone
  • Africa Day – Gardai held a community event at The Model, Sligo to mark International Africa Day
  • Day of Action – a community engagement day specifically targeting farming community was held on 27th May
  • Hate Crime Training: Garda in Sligo/Leitrim completed training on “Hate Crime” in June
  • 2022 Divisional Youth Awards - Competition is underway, closing on 30th The Credit Union were thanked for their support
  • Electric Vehicle Training – Sligo Fire Service have trained twelve Gardai on safety skills when dealing with Electric Vehicles
  • Ukrainian Event – Gardai organised a scenic trip to Leitrim with Ukrainians residing in Rosses Point
  • GAA Camp, Ballinafad – Gardai teamed up with Ballinfad N.S and completed a football training session with Ukrainian Children
  • Operation Twin Tracks Day of Action –Gardai teamed up with Irish Rail and visited train stations in Co. Sligo to provide high visibility patrols to deter anti-social behaviour and give crime prevention advice
  • Orienteering Day - Garda conducted an Orienteering Day with 6th Class pupils from Cadbury National School
  • National Operation Slowdown took place over the June Bank Holiday weekend. A number of lifesaver offences were detected
  • Anti-Social Behaviour - High Visibility Operation in place in Sligo Town to target anti-social behaviour (Rockwood Parade). A Stakeholder’s Meeting took place on Monday 20th June to put a joint plan in place
  • BID members (including An Garda Síochana) conducted a walk around Sligo on 20th May – all deficiencies were noted
  • There is a new Divisional Drug Unit with three new sergeants
  • There have been two fatal collisions to date in 2022

 

New Youth Initiative:

Gardai have teamed up with Youth Work Ireland North Connaught and to deliver a new youth programme “Twilight Football”.  The purpose of the programme is to provide a positive social outlet for young people on a Friday night, to build relations between young people and An Gardaí Síochana, and to provide an opportunity for them to meet new people and have some fun.  12–16-year-old youths in Sligo have been invited to six football sessions starting on the 10th July at Ray MacSharry Park.  The Garda Internships are assisting with this programme.

 

Garda Quick Guide – Basic Ukrainian Words:

Gardai have created an innovative Q.R Code which can be downloaded and gives Garda members access via their phones to useful basic Ukrainian phases so that they can communicate with Ukrainians in Sligo communities. The tool has proven useful and has been shared with the HSE and community groups.

 

Additional Resources:

  • New Divisional Drugs Unit in Sligo – One Sergeant and four Gardai
  • DDU – Additional resources added to Detective Unit - two Detective Sergeants
  • Eight Detective Gardai in Sligo
  • One Detective Gardai in Ballymote
  • DPSU – Two additional Detective Gardai added to Unit

 

Organised Crime:

There are five Organised Crime Gangs in the Sligo/Leitrim Division.

 

Operation Bulldog

  • One person charged with directing a criminal organisation
  • Number of charges before the Courts - to be tried before the Special Criminal Court
  • Six counts of money maundering in the State and two counts of money laundering outside of the State
  • Eight arrests – operation continuing
  • Four people convicted for drug related offences in last 12 months. (140 months imprisonment)
  • Confiscation of cash

 

Operation Golf

  • One person charged with money laundering
  • Planned Operations on 1st June 2022
  • €35,000 Drugs seized
  • Two CAB searches completed in April and May 2022

 

Operation Doberman

  • Four people charged before the courts for offences of theft and money laundering relating to plant/machinery
  • One female extradited from the U.K and arrested for burglary in Sligo (2017)
  • One male extradited from Poland and arrested for an assault in Sligo (2020)

 

Extraditions In June 2022

Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady thanked Chief Superintendent Glacken for the comprehensive report and update.  It was highlighted that the development of the Divisional Drug Unit was a positive step along with the Twilight Football initiative.

Councillor Marie Casserly complimented An Garda Síochana on their recent success regarding the recent tragic events in Sligo.  The initiatives set up to support the Ukrainian people living in Sligo were also welcomed.

Ms. Gail McGibbon  referred to The Purple Flag ICE ( In Case of Emergency) Card which is being rolled out in partnership with An Garda Síochana.  5,000 cards have been printed and these are available at the Atlantic Technological University.

Councillor Gino O’ Boyle congratulated An Garda Síochana on their work on the recent assault and murders in Sligo.

Councillor O’ Boyle queried if there was a need for additional resources to deal with the issue of anti-social behaviour?

Chief Superintendent Glacken thanked everyone for their positive comments and paid tribute to the staff of An Garda Síochána, particularly the Diversity Team and the local community in relation to the recent tragic events in Sligo.  The importance of civic and public responsibility was highlighted in light of such events.  

In response to Councillor O’ Boyle’s query, Chief Superintendent Glacken stated that An Garda Síochána resources are allocated as the need and demand requires.  There are more resources available at present than in previous years.

 

4. NOTICE RECEIVED OF ISSUES TO BE RAISED:

 a) (Deferred from March Meeting) Received from Councillor Sinead Maguire :

“To enquire if An Garda Siochana have any information for young people with regard to sexual assault and do they run any public/ educational sessions to inform young people of the seriousness of these offences”?

This item was deferred to the September meeting.

b) Received from Councillor Dara Mulvey:

“To ask Sligo County Council and An Garda Síochána to address the concerns from residents in Ballinacarrow on the issue of speeding vehicles going through the village and the failure by some to stop at the traffic lights across from the National school”

Chief Superintendent Glacken took on board Councillor Dara Mulvey’s request to have the Go Safe van reinstated at this location.

Councillor Dara Mulvey welcomed Chief Superintendent Glacken’s reply and emphasised the need for every deterrent possible to be put in place.

c) Received from Councillor Marie Casserly:

“To ask if the plans from CAO Joe Nugent and/or the OPW that were promised 2 years ago have been received re: refurbishment plans for Sligo Garda Station and has a cost benefit analysis been carried out on same”

Chief Superintendent Glacken stated that there had been no developments to date and that a Strategic Assessment was being awaited to determine financial costs.  The timeline for the Strategic Assessment is the end of the Summer.  This will be measured against any potential opportunities that may be available.

Councillor Marie Casserly reiterated the need for this refurbishment work and queried if the current building was accessible by wheelchair users.  Chief Superintendent Glacken responded by stating that only the public office was wheelchair accessible.

Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady stated that all JPC members shared their frustration at how long this issue had been in the agenda.

 

5. CORRESPONDENCE:

a) Motion from Cork County Council Joint Policing Committee re: media campaign on the dangers of increased incidents of phishing and cybercrime was noted

b) Email from Department of Justice – Funding Call 2022 Community Safety Innovation Fund

Chief Superintendent Glacken updated the members and reported that an application made to this fund/Department of Justice last year had not been successful.  This application was in relation to a Community Outreach Booth which could be shared across communities.

A new call for applications will be available in the New Year with the possibility of reapplying for the Community Outreach Booth with the support of  the Joint Policing Committee’s member groups and organisations.

Mr. Martin Lydon agreed that the application could come from the JPC and that Sligo County Council would be available to assist with the funding application.

Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady welcomed this initiative.

 

6. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:

The next JPC Meeting will be held on Friday 30th September 2022 at 10.30am in the Council Chamber.

 

7. A.O.B:

Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady, Ms. Gail McGibbon and Chief Superintendent Glacken complimented Garda Kerins and Garda Cummings on their approachability during the night-time economy assessment.

Councillor Dara Mulvey acknowledged the work of Sergeant Jude Gallagher and 2 local gardaí for their positive interaction with the community.

Councillor Donal Gilroy referred to the 100th Anniversary of An Garda Síochána and informed members that the first Garda Station in Sligo was located in the Rodgers& Lyons building and requested that this piece of local history be included in some way in the celebrations.

Superintendent Mandy Gaynor stated that there were a number of events being arranged to celebrate the occasion and that there will be a Divisional Committee established to oversee this.  It is intended to have exhibitions in libraries in three divisional districts, along with Mr. Donal Tinney, County Librarian commissioning videos and music which will cover the past 100 years.  Contact has also been made with retired An Garda Síochána members.

Superintendent Mandy Gaynor will contact Councillor Donal Gilroy and any suggestions/ideas that members may have for the centenary celebrations would be welcome.

Mr. David Tuffy informed members that a text alert scheme had successfully been set up covering the West Sligo area.

 

The Chairperson, Councillor Rosaleen O’ Grady thanked everyone and concluded the meeting at 11.25am.


Meeting Date 24/06/2022