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Justice Minister Alan Shatter today launched the “Community Crime Prevention Programmes” booklet.

Minister Shatter said:

The launch today of the Garda “Community Crime Prevention Programmes” booklet illustrates the ongoing commitment of An Garda Síochána to build on the success of Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch programmes and to maximise the engagement with local communities. I look forward to the continuing development of such important community resources.

I am also looking forward to hearing this morning about some of the examples of the work already being done at community level from the representatives of Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch who are with us. Community crime prevention programmes first came into operation in 1985 and in excess of 3,700 Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert groups have been established since then. They have helped to promote responsible community involvement and have substantially assisted in the promotion of good crime prevention practice.

Every community has the opportunity of establishing a Neighbourhood Watch or Community Alert programme with An Garda Síochána as partners and I would encourage all communities to do so. Both individuals and communities can play an important role in helping to prevent crime, in making it a great deal more difficult for bad people to commit crime and in assisting the Gardaí in their crucial work.

Download the "Community Crime Prevention Programmes" booklet

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Read Minister Shatter’s full speech

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