Hundreds of Wicklow residents shape first community safety plan through public consultations
The Wicklow PeopleWicklow’s Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) has entered a period of intense activity, with four steering groups now operating, hundreds of residents contributing to consultations, and a growing workload as the national community safety strategy moves toward adoption.
The update, presented to district councillors in Wicklow at their July monthly meeting, painted a picture of a partnership that has rapidly expanded its remit during 2026, with councillors acknowledging both the scale of the work and the cultural shift from the former Joint Policing Committee model.
The LCSP, established to bring community voices directly into local safety planning, now oversees four dedicated steering groups: Domestic Violence, Safety in the Home, Roads and Road Safety, and Anti‑Social Behaviour.
Each group is tasked with developing targeted actions for inclusion in Wicklow’s first Community Safety Plan. LCSP coordinator Trish Carmody told councillors that while significant progress has been made, the plan cannot be finalised until the Department of Justice formally adopts the national strategy, which will set the framework for local partnerships across the country.
Cllr Tom Fortune addressing an LSCP public meeting in Greystones
Until then, elements of Wicklow’s plan remain in draft, though the partnership continues to gather data, test initiatives and refine priorities.
Public engagement has been substantial, with 800 responses received through ongoing consultations.
These responses, Ms Carmody said, are providing a detailed picture of people’s lived experience of safety issues in Wicklow, ranging from domestic violence concerns to road safety, anti‑social behaviour, and the need for better supports within the home.
Councillors were told that this level of engagement is crucial to shaping a plan that reflects real community needs rather than top down assumptions.
One of the most visible initiatives to date has been the rollout of the LCSP’s new property marking machine, which allows valuable items to be engraved with a unique identification code.
The machine has already been used in training sessions involving community groups, An Garda Síochána and local organisations, and further public demonstrations are planned.
Garda Damien Prendergast and James O’Neill, Property Marking Ireland, at a recent training event. © Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership
The initiative has been widely welcomed as a practical tool for crime prevention, particularly in rural areas where theft of equipment and machinery remains a persistent concern.
Cllr Paul O’Brien said the workload involved in coordinating the partnership’s activities had been “tremendous”, noting the scale of engagement required across multiple working groups and agencies. He praised the commitment of those involved, saying the LCSP had quickly become a central forum for addressing community safety issues in Wicklow.
Cllr John Snell told the meeting he had been sceptical at first, referencing his previous experience with the Joint Policing Committee, which he said had been restricted by its inability to deal with individual cases or provide a space where people could speak freely.
He said he had questioned whether the LCSP would offer anything different, but acknowledged that the partnership appeared to be developing a more open and community‑focused approach.
Cllr Snell said it remained important that residents feel they have a forum where they can raise concerns without being shut down by procedural limitations.
In response, LCSP chair, Cllr Tom Fortune, said the partnership was working “110 per cent” as the Department finalises the national strategy. He said the LCSP had already demonstrated its ability to deliver practical initiatives and meaningful engagement, and that further development would follow once the national framework is in place.
Cllr Fortune also confirmed that plans were being developed to “cross‑fertilise” with neighbouring counties, sharing learning and aligning approaches to common safety challenges.
He said this regional cooperation would strengthen the LCSP’s work and help ensure consistency across borders, particularly in areas such as rural crime, domestic violence supports and road safety.
Ms Carmody reiterated that while the LCSP is progressing well, the absence of an adopted national strategy means some elements of the local plan cannot yet be finalised. She said the partnership was continuing to gather evidence, consult widely and prepare draft actions so that Wicklow would be ready to move quickly once the national document is published.
Councillors welcomed the update, noting that the LCSP had become a significant part of the district’s work programme in a short period of time.
Several members said the partnership’s structure, with multiple steering groups and broad community involvement, represented a major shift from previous policing and safety forums.
They said the challenge now would be maintaining momentum, ensuring the partnership remains accessible to the public, and delivering tangible improvements once the national strategy is adopted.
The discussion concluded with a recognition that the LCSP is still in a formative phase but is already demonstrating its potential. With strong public engagement, active working groups and initiatives such as property marking gaining traction, councillors said the partnership was laying the groundwork for a more responsive and community‑driven approach to safety in Wicklow.
As the national strategy moves closer to adoption, the LCSP is preparing to translate its consultations, evidence gathering and early projects into a comprehensive plan that reflects the concerns and priorities of residents across the county.