'High-level' volunteer sought to lead new Laois policing body

A 'high-level' volunteer is being sought to chair a new body in Laois to monitor community policing and safety issues around the county.

As part of a new Government initiative, Laois County Council and other local authorities across Ireland are seeking voluntary chairpersons to develop and manage Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) in their area.

The Department of Justice says the Partnerships will have a wider membership than the JPCs and will include residents, local councillors, community representatives, business and education representatives along with a range of public services. These include the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority.

The JPC chairs in Laois have all been county councillors. But expressions of interests are being sought for non-political individuals to take up the posts.

The Depatment says the Chairperson will be to lead the work of the Partnership and find consensus among the members so that a tailored local community safety plan can be developed. They will also be responsible for driving forward the implementation of the community safety plan so that it delivers tangible benefits in the community.

It is also stated that they are an essential part of the new whole of Government approach to community safety.

"The approach aims to bring all the relevant state services and the community together at local authority level to create bespoke local safety plans," said the Department.

The role of the Chairperson will be:

• Provide leadership and strategic direction;
• Lead the Local Community Safety Partnership in making informed decisions and solutions tailored to the needs of the specific community which they are working in;
• Implement the Local Community Safety Plan in conjunction with both community and public services;
• Act as an advocate for the LCSP and representing the LCSP to the public, media and other stakeholders as appropriate.

"It is a significant high-level volunteering role, within their own community/county, which will require dedication and time," says the Government.

Each Partnership will be supported by a dedicated Community Safety Coordinator and an administrator. Both of these permanent positions will be funded by the Department of Justice and recruited by and sit within each local authority.

The Secretariat for each LCSP will be provided by the local community safety coordinator.