Big changes coming to community safety in Offaly

A bold new approach to community safety is coming to Offaly, as Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) are set to replace the long-standing Joint Policing Committees.

''I’m delighted that my colleague Minister Jim O’Callaghan has officially signed regulations for the rollout of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) across all 36 local authority areas in the country,” said Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Murray.

These partnerships mark a major shift in how safety is tackled, bringing together An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Tusla, local residents, older persons, business owners, community reps, councillors, and council officials in one united forum.

Each LCSP will meet at least six times per year, with one meeting open to the public. But this isn’t just about more meetings, it's about making them matter, says the Minister.

The aim?

• Tailored safety plans for each community

• Tackling not just crime, but also issues like public lighting, local services, and shared spaces

• Stronger collaboration between communities, agencies, and elected reps

• Putting the local voice at the heart of safety planning

''We’re moving toward a more collaborative, responsive, and locally driven approach to community safety. It’s not just about policing, it’s about improving how people feel in their community,'' adds Cllr Murray.

Each LCSP will develop and implement a strategy that fits the unique needs of its area built in close partnership with local stakeholders and supported by a dedicated community safety coordinator and administrator, funded by the Department of Justice.

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Tested, Proven, Ready to Launch

Before this national rollout, the model was tested in pilot partnerships in Waterford, Longford, and Dublin’s North Inner City, covering high, medium, and low population density areas.

These pilots successfully brought together local communities and agencies to co-create practical safety plans. Their impact was measured through baseline, interim, and final evaluations, and their success has directly shaped the national launch.

The Minister says the ultimate goal is to ''prioritise the voice of local people in identifying and addressing community safety issues in a collaborative way.''

Now, with Offaly ready to join the national rollout, a new era of locally driven, people-powered safety planning is about to begin.