Making Blakestown safer

The issue of community safety is of concern to every person who lives or works in Dublin 15. Like every other large urban area in the country Blanchardstown has its share of problems with crime and anti-social behaviour. One of the more successful initiatives of recent times in facing up to this problem has been the establishment of the Safer Blanchardstown Forum.

The Forum comprises representatives of Fingal County Council, the gardaí, the probation service, local drugs task force, RAPID, local county councillors and TDs together with five elected community representatives.

According to co-ordinator, Philip Jennings, “the most important aspect of the process is the interaction between the community, the county council and the gardaí. This is facilitated by the holding of public meetings at which residents can raise relevant issues of concern to them that relate to anti-social behaviour and crime with the gardaí and the council.”

In the past year Safer Blanchardstown has held five such public Forum meetings in Mulhuddart with an average attendance of 80 residents per meeting. “The issues raised were many and varied, sometimes difficult and complex and sometimes very easy to resolve,” said Philip. “Anti-social behaviour and crime will not be solved overnight but I am happy to report that each and every issue raised at the public Forum meetings was addressed by the gardaí and Fingal County Council.

“Although we had some teething problems to begin with and we made our mistakes along the way, all partners have responded very positively to the process. None more so than the residents of the Mulhuddart area who regularly attend public meetings and who have stated that they are very happy with the Safer Blanchardstown process.”

Now the Forum is extending its work into the Whitestown, Sheepmore, Fortlawn, Whitechapel and Lohunda areas. The first public Forum meeting in this part of Dublin 15 will be held in Blakestown Community Centre on Thursday 8th May, 7 – 9 p.m.

The meeting will be attended by senior gardaí and Fingal County Council representatives and according to Philip, “all residents are encouraged to attend this very important meeting that will provide an opportunity to become part of a lasting solution to the many and varied problems that affect our community.”

The key element in the Safer Blanchardstown concept is the principle of partnership. “Our community’s problems are shared problems and can only be solved by shared responsibility,” says Philip. “If we adopt a partnership approach that recognises that we are tackling shared problems then we are more likely to find longer lasting shared solutions.”

Further information on the Blakestown meeting is available from Philip Jennings (tel. 870 8494 or e-mail philip.jennings@fingalcoco.ie).

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