Joint Policing Committees

Section 36 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee in each local authority administrative area and as part of the local government structures. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda officers responsible for the policing of that area, with the participation of Oireachtas members and community interests, can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the area.

Starting in 2006, the Committees were established on a pilot basis in 29 local authority areas. Following evaluation of the pilot phase the roll out of committees to all of the 114 city, county and town council areas was put in train on 24 September 2008. Guidelines on the operation of the Committees were made by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Dermot Ahern, TD, after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The Committees are required to make an annual report of their activities to the Minister for Justice and Equality and this will allow for monitoring of the progress being made by committees and consideration of the key issues which may emerge from the work of the committees.

In addition to the Joint Policing Committees, there is provision under Section 36 (2) (d) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the establishment, where appropriate, of Local Policing Fora at neighbourhood level. These are intended to operate in a more informal way than the Joint Policing Committees and are intended to deepen the engagement between Gardai, the local authority and neighbourhood communities. The process of establishment of Local Policing Fora commenced in August 2009 in relation to the six local authority areas where Local Drug Task Forces operate, i.e. Cork City Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and Bray Town Council.

Guidelines on the operation of Local Policing Fora in those areas were issued by the Minister for Justice and Equality, after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Garda Síochána Act 2005 Joint Policing Committees Guidelines (PDF - 129KB)

Guidelines on Local Policing Fora in areas where Local Drug Task Forces operate (PDF - 2.85MB)