What are Joint Policing Committees?The Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 36) provides for the establishment of a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in each local authority. The purpose of these committees is to provide a forum where a local authority and the senior Garda Officers responsible for policing that area can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters of policing that area.
Membership of Leitrim's JPC: Leitrim's JPC was re-established and held it's first meeting on 21st July, 2015. The Membership is based on the Revised Guidelines for the operation of Joint Policing Committee's which were published in August, 2014. The Guidelines on JPC Membership for Leitrim provide for the JPC to have 13 Elected Members, 5 Oireachtas Members, two local authority officials and 6 Community Representatives. The local authortity representatives are Mr. Frank Curran, Chief Executive and Ms. Mary Quinn, Director of Services, Housing, Corporate, Culture & Emergency Services. Following the General Election in February, 2016, it was necessary to review the Oireachtas Membership. Two of the four Oireachtas Members in Sligo/Leitrim are members of the Leitrim JPC: Deputy Martin Kenny and Deputy Marc McSharry. In accordance with the JPC Guidelines an Oireachtas Member can only be a member of one JPC. Details of the current membership of the Leitrim JPC is attached here: Members of Leitrim's JPC.pdf (size 280.6 KB)
Councillor Enda Stenson is the Chairperson of the Leitrim JPC and Councillor Sinead Guckian is the Vice-Chairperson.
Members of the Leitrim JPC at a meeting on Monday 5th October, 2015
Joint Policing Committee Steering Group: Each JPC must establish a Steering Group, consisting of the chairperson of hte JPC, a representative of An Garda Siochana and the Chief Executie of the local authority or a person nominated by him or her. The function of the Steeting Group will be to facilitate the efficient functioning of the JPC and in particurlar to ensure that it retains a clear focus on strategic and collaborative action. It will also arrnage procedures for the appoinmtent of any new or replacement members, draw up an dagend and arrange for documentation for meetings, be the point of contact for co-operation and joitn actioin with other JPC's and with any sub-committee of the JPC. Membership of the Leitrim JPC Steering Committee is as follows: Councillor Enda Stenson (Chairperson), Mr. Frank Curran, Chief Executive, Leitrim County Council and Superintendent Kevin English.
Guidelines on the operation of JPC's: Revised Guidelines on the operation of Joint Policing Committee's were published in August, 2014. A copy of the Revised Guidelines are available here: Guidelines on the operation of JPC's.pdf (size 10.4 MB)
Leitrim JPC Standing Orders: The Standing Orders for the Leitrim JPC were developed having regard to the Guidelines on the opearation of Joint Policing Committte's that were published in August, 2014. The Standing Orders were approved by the JPC at their meeting in November, 2015 and a copy of the Standing Orders are available here: Leitrim Joint Policing Committee Standing Orders .pdf (size 528.1 KB)
What are the functions of JPCs? The Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Section 36) provides for the establishment of a joint policing committee (JPC) in each local authority. The function of the JPC's is to serve as a forum for consultations, disucssions and recommendatoins on matters affecting the policing of the local authority's administrative area, and in particular to -
(a) keep under review -
(i) the levels and patterns of cirme, disorder and anti-social behaviouf in that area (including the patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs), and
(ii) the factors underlying and contributing to the leves of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in that area,
(b) advised the local authority concerned and the Garda Siochana on how they might best perfrom their functions and have regard to the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the area,
(c) arrnge and host public meetings concerning the matters affecting the policing of the local authority's administrative area ,
(d) establish, in consultation with the local Garda Superintendnetn, as the committtee considers necessary within specific neighbourhoods of the area, local policing form to discuss and make recommendatonis to the committee concerning matters that it is to keep under review under paragraph (a) or on which it is to advise under paragraph (b), in so far as those matters affect their neighbourhoods, and
(e) co-ordinate the activities of local policing form under paragraph (d) or otherwise.
Section 37 (1) provides that a local authority, shall in performing it's functions, have regard to the importance of taking steps, to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within it's area of responsibility.
As a result of the works of the JPC's, decisions which are mde by any of the interests represented on the JPC should be better informed ones as a result of the discussion of local needs and circumstances. In particurlar, the JPC acts as a mechanism, through which, firstly, the local authority can have a role in conveying information and views to Garda Divisional and District Officers to assist them in the formulation and operatin of their annual policing plnas and, secondly, Garda Divisional and District Officers can convey information and views to the local authority to assist it in carrying out it's duties, functions and activities.
Leitrim Joint Policing Committee Strategic Plan 2015-2020: Each Joint Policing Committee is required to develop Strategic Work Plans which must be linked with other appropriate plans and strategies. In this regard, the JPC must put in place a 6-year Strategic Plan linked to the relevant objectives in the Local Economic and Community (LECP) Plan of the local authority. The JPC is also required to develop an Annual Work Plan which as well as linking to the LECP Plan, must include relevant objectives from the Garda Annual Policing Plan applying to the local authority area. Leitrim JPC commenced work on their Strategic Plan in 2015 and the plan was approved by the Members in February, 2016. A copy of the Strategic Plan is available here: Leitrim Joint Policing Committee Strategic Plan 2015-2020.pdf (size 824.4 KB)
JPC Annual Work Programmes: In addition to the JPC Strategic Plan 2015-2050, each JPC is required to develop an Annual Work Plan which as well as linking to the the local authoriti's Local Economic and Communiyt Plan (LECP), must include relevant objectives from the Garda Annual Policing Plan applying to the local authority area. The Leitrim JPC 2016 Work Plan and a progress report on the actions contained within the Work Programme will be presented to the Members at year-end.
Press Releases issued by Leitrim Joint Policing Committee: The media attend meetings of the Leitrim JPC and occassionally the JPC will issue a formal press release to communicate with members of the public in relation to the role of the JPC. Since the JPC was re-established in July, 2015 two formal press releases have been prepared on behalf of the JPC and they are available for viewing here:
JPC Press Release October, 2015.pdf (size 272.2 KB)
Leitrim Joint Policing Committee Press Release February, 2016.pdf (size 183.1 KB)
The National JPC Monitoring Office can be contacted at:-
National JPC Monitoring Office
Garda Community Relations Bureau
Garda Headquarters
Harcourt Square
Dublin 2
D02 DH42
Tel: +353 1 6663823/14
For further information visit Responsibilites of JPCs and further information
Contact Details Leitrim JPC: If you have a query in relation to the Leitrim JPC please contact Ms. Sinead Flynn, Administrative Officer, Corporate Services. Email: sflynn@leitrimcoco.ie Telephone: 071/9620005 ext 104.