A Letterkenny-based county councillor has demanded more Community Policing in the town.
Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle was speaking after an increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour in many areas right across the Town in recent months.
The Sinn Fein councillor said he has been inundated with complaints from members of the public who demanded more Garda resources to be made available to police the Town.
He said “As Chairperson of Donegal Policing Committee I have held recent meetings with local Gardai to appeal for our Community Garda Section to be increased. I have also once again written to the Garda Commissioner for an increased allocation of new Gardai.
“There is a small minority of people involved in these anti-social activities and we should not let them take away from the vast majority of young people who make a positive contribution to our local communities.”
He added that we must continue to invest in our young people and encourage all of them to invest in their local community.
He said “Breaking windows and setting fires is not the way to do this. So I would appeal to parents, know where your children are at and what they are doing, teach them to be respectful to others and their property, work with your neighbours not against them.
“Community Policing can help this, Gardai must interact with our local communities in a more practical and personal way. They must get out of their cars and mix with the young people, more Foot and Bicycle Patrols, engage with the young people.”
He said that due to Garda cutbacks and lack of resources the Gardai are overstretched but they must find a way of increasing our Community Policing Section.
He added “This strategy I believe would help Gardai and I have no doubt it would decrease anti-social behaviour in our Communities.
“Council and Government also have a role to play in making our communities safer places for all. We must not only adopt but implement the policy of future Planning Application for multiple developments of new homes must be “community proofed”.
“These developments must include Play Areas, Community Hubs which can act as a safe place for our community to meet and play and extra resources for our Community Development and Youth Services.”
