Donegal Local Community Safety Partnership
The Government has approved a new whole of system approach to community safety, which will be introduced by the Department of Justice. It has developed the new community safety policy based on a key principle identified in the 2018 report by the Commission on the Future of Policing, that policing is not the responsibility of the police alone and involves other agencies of Government such as health and social services. The Community Safety Policy proposes a whole-of-government approach to community safety.
The concept of community safety is about people being safe and feeling safe in their own community. At the heart of this policy is the principle that every community has the right to be and feel safe in order to thrive and flourish. The new community safety vision is to make community safety a whole of Government responsibility and priority, to be delivered through Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) and supported through a national governance structure. This structure will ensure that communities are empowered to have a strong say in what actions are prioritised by the services operating in their area and will also have a key oversight role in ensuring those actions are followed through.
Donegal County Council recently invited expressions of interest for consideration for appointment as Chairperson of a new Local Community Safety Partnerships which is being established in each Local Authority area in line with the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
Please check back for further information.
Garda Youth Awards
The Donegal Garda Youth Awards, held on May 20th 2024, marked a poignant moment in the County's history as it stood as the final event of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC). As the curtains drew on this significant chapter, the ceremony shone a spotlight on the exceptional contributions and achievements of young individuals across Donegal.
The Award Winners for 2024 were :
Individual Award: Carmen Hernandez, Donegal Town
Special Achievement Award: Seán Boyle, Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada, Arranmore
Special Recognition Award: Conor Callaghan, Deele College, Raphoe
Group Award: Class 3B, Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana
Community Safety Award: Harry Byrne, Luke Holmes, Konrad Krol & Tristian Harron, St. Columbas College, Stranorlar
The Donegal Garda Youth Awards stand as a testament to the resilience, determination, and compassion of our young people. As we bid farewell to the Donegal JPC, we will carry forward the spirit of unity and cooperation that has defined its legacy, ensuring that the voices and contributions of youth remain at the forefront of our collective efforts to build a safer, stronger, and more inclusive Donegal.