IFA & An Garda Síochána Join Forces With The National Rural Safety Forum for National Community Engagement Day
An Garda Síochána, IFA and the members of the National Rural Safety Forum will invite local community members to partake in the National Community Engagement Day this Wednesday, April 27th.
IFA President, Tim Cullinan said IFA are delighted to work alongside An Garda Síochána to see how best we can keep our rural communities safe. This event taking place across the country will hear of people’s concerns from rural backgrounds, the aim of which is to help An Garda Siochana address the security and safety issues these communities face on a daily basis. He will be attending the event at Fingal Farm Home and Gardens, Oldcastle at 2pm along with Minister of State at the Dept of Justice, James Browne and Asst. Commissioner Paula Hilman, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána.
IFA Deputy President Brian Rushe, who is Co-Chair of the National Rural Safety Forum, will attend the event at O’Loughlin’s farm, Monasterevin along with Minister of State at the Dept of Justice, James Browne and Senior Gardai. He said it’s crucial that everyone works together to serve the best interests of people at risk in our communities and the National Community Engagement Day is the perfect platform for this.
“Community reassurance and crime prevention initiatives are at the centre of community welfare. IFA is very pleased to be working with An Garda Síochána and members of the National Rural Safety Forum on this great initiative and are urging all communities to come out on Wednesday to make it a memorable day,” he said.
The event, last held in 2020, will involve over 800 communities from across the country meeting with their local Gardaí and community representatives to discuss safety in rural areas, crime prevention and security. The meetings will be informal and will last approximately one hour.
A list of venues and times are listed under National Community Engagement Day on http://www.garda.ie/!KQR60R
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, from Roads Policing and Community Engagement, An Garda Síochána said An Garda Síochána is delighted to partner with the IFA and other key stakeholders from the National Rural Safety Forum for a National Community Engagement Day to take place in 300 venues across the country.
“The National Community Engagement Day will provide an opportunity for people from all our communities, both rural and urban, to meet with their local gardaí. I especially welcome the event this year as it is the first time since 2020 that it could take place owing to Covid-19 restrictions,” she added.
“Engagement, partnership and problem solving with local communities is essential to our mission of keeping people safe. Members of An Garda Síochána will use this as an opportunity to meet informally with local communities, listen to their concerns, discuss ways to work collaboratively to reduce crime and fear of crime and offer crime prevention advice,” she concluded.
