Crime Prevention Takes Top Billing

Self-help and crime prevention are being highlighted with a new crime prevention initiative getting underway this week.

Gardaí Community Safety Week - from Monday, 27th April to Sunday, 3rd May - is being marked by a series of high profile crime prevention/reduction initiatives nationally as well as with increased activity by local community Gardaí and crime prevention officers. Announcing the week of community safety activities the Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy (pictured) said that An Garda Síochána is committed to working in partnership with communities to ensure that people can enjoy a good quality of life in safe surroundings.

"This is a 24/7 commitment on our part - 365 days of the year," he said noting this week will be highlighting that simple crime prevention measures can be taken by everyone to protect themselves, their families and their property.

"We are emphasising the role each individual can play in securing a safer community for everyone," he continued.

A domestic security checklist is be available on the Gardaí website site to assist people perform a security assessment of their home and its contents, he noted.

"We have introduced onto the website a short guide to retail security - intended to assist retailers, both large and small - to take cost commensurate measures to improve security on a retail premises and protect their property.

"Burglary and theft account for a large proportion of all crime reported to the Gardaí.

"The Gardaí will play their part in preventing and reducing crime, however we all have a part to play and I am asking for your help and support in our endeavours," he concluded.

Among events during Community Safety Week will be a Community Safety awareness message on the Crimecall television programme to be broadcast on RTE 1 on Tuesday, April 28th 2009 as well as the circulation of new Crime Prevention and Community Safety Advice leaflets to the public in several forums, including public libraries and on the Garda website.

The new Garda Mobile Incident Command Units will be in locations throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region during the week where Gardaí will be distributing the new crime prevention literature and meeting members of the public to assist them and Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert meetings will be held nationwide during the week and community gardaí will visit primary schools to discuss basic road safety and crime prevention steps.

(BMcC/JM)