Local Community Safety Partnerships

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Local Community Safety Partnerships

Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) aim to prioritise the voice of local people in identifying and addressing community safety issues in collaboration with broad range of relevant stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of statutory agencies including the HSE, Tusla and each local authority.

The objective is to bring the relevant bodies together with communities in a collaborative manner, by focusing on the concerns identified and prioritised by local people. Each newly established LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan and will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner; addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.

The Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which came into operation on 2 April 2024, places the LCSPs on a statutory footing. Under the Act, 36 Partnerships will be rolled out nationwide covering each Local Authority area.

The Partnerships will be actively supported by a paid local community safety coordinator and administrator, who are resourced by the Department of Justice.

Pilot LCSP Schemes

In preparation for the national rollout, this partnership approach was successfully demonstrated in a pilot initiative which has been underway in Waterford, Longford and Dublin North Inner City since 2021. The locations allowed the proposed structure to be trialled in a high population density area, a medium population density area and a low population density area, with a regional distribution.

Each pilot LCSP brought together community members, local representatives and statutory representatives and successfully produced a community safety plan with specific projects and actions to improve community Safety.

The Pilot Partnerships were subject to independent monitoring and evaluation with baseline, interim and final reports published. The learning from these pilots is being used to inform the national roll out of LCSPs.

1. Dublin North Inner City

The Dublin North Inner City Community Safety Plan was launched on the 22nd of September 2023. The North Inner City Plan outlines 50 actions across five priority areas.

The Dublin LCSP has developed a Community Safety Warden scheme. The project aims to promote a pro-social space for the recreation in Wolfe Tone Park and O'Connell Street. The wardens provide a visible presence, foster communication with stakeholders, and signpost relevant services. The scheme also establishes effective grassroots communication with state and community services, including detached youth workers, An Garda Síochána, local drug and alcohol programmes, and Dublin City Council in its management.

Another collaborative effort under the Dublin LCSP is the Bridge Project, which offers an alternative to custody for adult male offenders. Collaborating with Gardaí and youth workers, the project targets anti-social behaviour among young people, facilitating connections with communities to deter involvement.

The DLCSP is working with the Garda Community Van, the HSE and Ana Liffey project on the LEAR project (Law Engagement & Assisted Recovery) to prioritise the area. LEAR aims to offer an individual health-based support to drug takers that seek assistance.

The Dublin North Inner City LCSP has rolled out a communications campaign around littering and related small changes individuals can make to help the community. The campaign is linked in with local Pride of Place groups.

Recent Highlights

2. Longford

The Longford Community Safety Plan was launched on 19 September 2022 . The community fed into the plan through Community Surveys and Public Engagement events.

The Longford LCSP has developed the Cornerstones Initiative, which, contains six components based on extensive community consultation, including the Water Safety and Sport Introduction Initiative, the Boxing Integration Programme, and the Development of a Restorative Justice Community Approach. This approach includes education and training workshops for key stakeholders, staff, and community members.

Longford County Council launched its Community Alert App under the auspices of the LCSP in April 2022. In September 2022 the app was longlisted for an Excellence in Local Government Award.

The Longford LCSP has received funding under the Community Safety Innovation Fund/Community Safety Fund for community safety activities including the development of a Community Safety roadshow trailer, a community Hub and a documentary.

Recent Highlights

3. Waterford

The Waterford Community Safety plan was launch on 27 March 2023. The plan was developed on the basis of extensive public consultation was undertaken between July and October 2022.

The Waterford LCSP has developed a Community Safety Warden scheme modelled on the Dublin North Inter City LCSP scheme. The intention is that these community champions will be the conduit in facilitating safer communities by ensuring that everyone feels safe as their visible presence deters crime and supports the creation of a safe a resilient City Centre community. This project covers Waterford City and County.

The Dungarvan Community Project is a collaborative initiative between, Waterford LCSP, Waterford Wexford ETB and Waterford Council. It established a further education training centre and an allotment training area aimed at diverting youths from anti-social behaviour towards further education

The Waterford LCSP is running three Local Estate Pilot Projects in Dungarvan, Carrickpherish and Portlaw.

The Waterford Local Community Safety Plan is available below:

Recent Highlights