Most inner-city residents willing to report drug crimes

Almost three-quarters of residents in Dublin's north inner city were more willing to report drug related crime following the introduction of a pilot community policing initiative in the area, according to a report on the scheme published yesterday.

The report of the North Inner City Community Policing Forum (CPF) cited major improvements in relations between community and State agencies, including the Garda Síochána, since the initiative - the first of its type in the State - was inaugurated in April 1999.

Some 70 per cent of local residents surveyed for the report said they thought Garda services had improved as a result of the forum, while 60 per cent said they thought Dublin City Council's services had improved.

Some 72 per cent said the CPF would make them more willing to report drug-related crime, 59 per cent non-drug-related crime, 80 per cent anti-social behaviour and 76 per cent estate-management issues.

Of the latter findings, the report noted they were "significant from the perspective of the overall Garda crime control mandate and, although the CPF was established to focus on drug-related matters, it is clearly having a more general impact also."

The forum's management board comprises representatives from the Garda, the City Council and the local community. It is chaired by Dublin Central Independent TD, Mr Tony Gregory who said yesterday the next step was for the project to be "mainstreamed", something which would require a permanent allocation from the Department of Justice.

To date the forum has received its funding via the North Inner City Local Drugs Task Force under the Framework of the National Drugs Strategy.

Expressing his support for the project, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who also represents the constituency, said one of the welcome outcomes had been the increased co-operation between senior representatives of the Garda and the City Council. "No single group or agency has all the answers but all of us pulling together in an integrated way have the ability to deal successfully with the problem facing us," he said.

Also speaking at the official launch of the forum at Store Street Garda Station was the Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne who said he believed the concept would "develop right through all the Garda districts".

The report of the forum recommended that the Department assist in extending the CPF model to other task force areas, as well as mainstream the North Inner City project as soon as possible.

Forum co-ordinator Ms Marie Metcalfe, who was widely praised for her role in developing the initiative, paid tribute to local gardaí, noting "every garda I ever came across has given me the height of respect".

The report said the CPF had a significant input in the resolution of a number of drug-related incidents, and successfully blocked-off drug dealing at certain locations .