Gardai working in the community outlined at Leitrim JPC meeting

Speaking at the latest Joint Policing Committee, Chief Supt Aidan Glacken said that as part of Operation 'Twin Tracks', a day of action to prevent and detect anti-social behaviour on rail routes
Gardai conducted high visibility public engagement with Iarnrod Eireann at Dromod and Carrick-on-Shannon railway stations with the crime prevention officer also providing advice to railway users. 

Cllr Sean McGowan said that this was "a very good idea because there is a lot of activity in relation to drugs on the train and it's about trying to stamp it out."

The Little Blue Heroes graduation ceremony that took place in Sligo and Leitrim has three Little Blue Heroes. The Little Blue Heroes Foundation’s vision is to support families of children with serious illnesses in Ireland while empowering the lives of children through positive community engagement. 

The National Garda Youth Awards took place with two winners from Leitrim, Alex O'Looney, Amy Keaveny and Freya Whitney from Drumshanbo National School who created a project 'Gasper' which provides safety equipment for farmers, while Brian Cull raised awareness on suicide among the farming community by setting up an annual tractor run. 

The Community Information Fair took place in The Landmark Hotel in Carrick in October which is an initiative rolled out by Leitrim Community Engagement Unit, Sligo Community Engagement Unit and the Sligo/Leitrim Crime Prevention Office in conjunction with the county council and a number of other bodies. 

The aim of the fair is to bring the elderly and more vulnerable members of the community to a common location and increase their knowledge of services and support available to them. 

Property marking events took place in October and November in conjunction with the IFA and a business watch information evening was held in October. 

Community school talks took place in November with internet safety the predominant theme. 

Garda in Leitrim will join forces with Leitrim GAA and LGFA in January to roll out the Garda Lifesaver Project and Use Your Brain, Not Your Fist Programme to youths aged 17 and 18 years old. 

In October, Gardai spoke to hundreds of youths in Mohill Community College as well as Ballinamore Community School about the Garda Lifesaver Project and will continue to deliver talks in 2024. 

Chief Supt Glacken noted that the Road Policing Joint Day of Action took place on the October bank holiday weekend with four drink drivers arrested in Leitrim and charged. 

He said during the winter months and particularly for elderly people, "there will be regular visits and services available through Sergeant Cara Kiernan,  Crime Prevention Officer" and phone calls and visits are carried out by community Gardai to persons believed to be vulnerable. 

The Community Garda also liaises with social workers for the elderly, district nurses, mental health nurses for the elderly, ALONE, etc. 

Regarding the Senior Alert Scheme (SAS) that was established to encourage community support for vulnerable, older people, it provides funding for a personal monitored alarm to enable persons aged 65 and older to continue to live securely in their homes.