Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) provide a dedicated forum to support consultation, cooperation and synergy on policing and crime issues between the Garda Síochána, Local Authority officials, elected representatives and the community and voluntary sectors. A JPC operates in each of the local authority areas, with 31 in total.
At a local level, The County Roscommon Joint Policing Committee is a partnership Roscommon County Council, An Garda Síochána and the Community. The membership comprises of senior Garda Officers, elected councillors and Oireachtas members and representatives of community & voluntary groups, including members of Roscommon PPN.
The Joint Policing Committee is intended to be a forum for discussion and a means of building confidence, trust and safety in the county. In doing this, the JPC seeks to prioritise key community policing policy issues and identify initiatives which will contribute to improved community policing and prevention or reduction of future crime in County Roscommon. The JPC typically meets three times a year.
The JPC’s function is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of a local authority area.
The remit of the JPC includes the following
- To keep under review, a) the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour (including the patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs) and, b) the underlying factors that contribute to these issues.
- Advise the local authority and the Garda Síochána on how they might best perform their functions and do everything feasibly possible to improve the safety and quality of life, to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
- Arrange and host public meetings concerning matters affecting the policing of the local authorities’ administrative area.
- Establish in consultation with the local Garda Superintendent and specific neighbourhoods, local policing fora to discuss and make recommendations to the JPC.
- Co-ordinate the activities of the local policing forums.