A NEW emphasis on "community policing" in the most drug infested areas of Dublin and Cork is among the initiatives being sought by the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment, Mr Pat Rabbitte.
Mr Rabbitte led a ministerial force on drugs which reported to the Government earlier this month. The report is to be debated in the Dail today. Mr Rabbitte said yesterday one of his main concerns is that gardai be redeployed in the 10 zones in Dublin and one in Cork which are highlighted in the report as "priority" areas in the fight against drugs.
According to Mr Rabbitte the Garda's Operation Dochas, which focuses on increased anti drug patrols in urban areas, covers only one aspect of the policing needs of communities most blighted by drugs. The most important element, he said, is to ensure the force has "individual gardai building up, relationships with the communities".
The task force heard examples from community groups of gardai respected in their areas who were suddenly sent to other duties. In some instances the move meant the loss of the only garda trusted by people in the area.
The task force report recommended that "a comprehensive community policing strategy be developed in the priority areas, involving a redeployment of Garda personnel to those areas".
The report, Measures to Reduce the Demand for Drugs, was approved by Government earlier this month and £14 million was allocated to financing its initiatives.
Of this, £3 million will be used for infrastructural improvements in local authority estates in 11 identified zones. A further £1 million is to go to programmes outside the zones. The bulk of the funding, £10 million, is to be distributed to local community drug teams setting up treatment and other projects in the 11 areas.
Mr Rabbitte said he would like it to be as soon as possible. How quickly it is spent will depend on how soon the 11 "local drugs task forces" involving voluntary and statutory agencies, community workers and gardai, are set up, he said.
The 10 areas in Dublin are the north and south inner city, Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Coolock, Crumlin, Finglas/Cabra and Tallaght. In addition north Cork city is to be prioritised.