Frank attended the Fingal Joint Policing Committee (Fingal JPC) in Ongar Community Centre on Thursday 17th October 2013.
Attendees:
- Superintendent Kelly
- Sergeant Vincent Connelly (Community Gardai, Blanchardstown)
- Sergeant Nicola Dunphy? (Community Gardai, Blanchardstown)
- P.J. Howell (Director Of Environment, Economic and Social Development, Fingal County Council)
- Ruairí Ó Dúlaing (Parks Division, Fingal County Council)
Minutes:
- All overtime for Gardai leading up to and including Halloween in on. Gardai have a structured and planned operation for Halloween (Operation Tombola)
- Gardai will be driving around Dublin 15 in marked and unmarked cars. They have asked residents to ring them or Fingal County Council if they see wood or fire materials being stashed on the days before Halloween.
- Frank asked Superintendent Kelly to set up a unit of special patrols to target vans cruising around our estate during the day looking for opportunities to commit crime. Also mentioned that they are putting leaflets in letter boxes during the night. I also said that four out of six car registrations given to the Gardai were suspected to be involved in crime and asked for some feedback.
- Gardai said that there is a rise in bogus workmen posing as Fingal workers calling to homes asking about water pressure in the area. There are also callers stating to be checking television signal. People should not allow anyone into their homes even if they have ID without first ringing to check their identity. Riverwood residents should refer to the workmen listed on the residents association website.
- Gardai advised people to be careful when disposing of bank statements and suggested that all documents with personal information should be shredded.
- Sergeant Vinnie Connelly told Frank that the Tennis Courts and Playground are being watched by Gardai and this is on-going at the request of the residents as due to anti-social behaviour at night particularly Friday, Saturday and Sunday after 10pm.
- A number of audience members asked the Gardai about the lack of response when a crime is reported. To be honest I didn’t like the answers given and the RRA along with the councillors will need to keep the pressure on to try and get Gardai to respond a bit quicker to alerts no matter what the problem is. RRA is asking residents to email the local councillors regarding policing in Dublin 15.
- It was suggested by an audience member that the recycling centre be opened free of charge in the week before Halloween to allow residents to dispose of any rubbish they may have, but this was rejected by Fingal County Council.
- We need to give the following contact details for residents to keep putting the pressure on:
- Gardai 666-7000
- Community Gardai 666-7020
- Fingal County Council Anti-Social Behaviour 1800-333-444, Office 890-5406
- Drug Dealing Line 1800-250-025
- Garda Confidential Line 1800-660-111
- Bicycles can be registered on SaferBlanchardstown.ie and BikeRegister.ie.
- Gardai also advised that there would be more bicycle patrols on the way but when pressed by Roderic O’Gorman as to where they would be they would not say.