New Wicklow policing committee holds first meeting but public and media shut out
The Wicklow PeopleThe Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) has held its inaugural meeting in the Wicklow County Council Chamber.
At the meeting on December 4, independent Greystones District councillor Tom Fortune was elected as chairperson and Selena Mckenzie was elected as vice-chairperson. In addition, a working subgroup was established to commence work on developing a three-year Local Community Safety Plan for County Wicklow, which will set out tailored actions to address the specific needs of communities across the entire county.
A total of 36 Safety Partnerships in every local authority area across the country are being established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. The partnerships replace the Joint Policing Committees, expanding them to include broader community, voluntary, and statutory involvement. Their aim is to strengthen collaboration across agencies and local groups, all working together to enhance safety and wellbeing throughout the county.
Other councillors nominated to sit on the committee alongside Cllr Fortune include Cllr Avril Cronin and Cllr Jason Mulhall from Baltinglass, Cllr Joe Behan and Cllr Ned Whelan from Bray and Cllr Pat Kennedy from Arklow.
Membership of the LCSP in Wicklow consists of 30 members, including representatives from state agencies (including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána), local authority members, and community representatives.
Last month Sinn Féin’s Wicklow TD John Brady criticised Government moves to restrict media access to new local committees covering policing and community safety.
The Department of Justice developed this Community Safety Policy based on a key principle from the 2018 report by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.
LCSPs will “identify issues relating to community safety in their area and will have an important future role to play in aligning the Community Safety Fund to community needs”.
New guidelines from the Department of Justice on the operation of the new LCSPs remove this presumption in favour of public and press access.
The policing authority’s 2022 guidelines on the operation of the old Joint Policing Committees set out that “in general”, their meetings “should be open to the public and press upon request”, unless there were legal or confidentiality reasons not to do so.
The LCSPs have replaced the long-standing Joint Policing Committees (JPCs), which allowed local media to attend meetings and report openly on discussions about crime prevention, public order, and community issues. However, recently finalised guidelines from the Department of Justice on the operation of the new LCSPs remove this presumption. The new guidelines state that LCSPs “may facilitate” media attendance “at their discretion and via request to the chair”.
The Department goes on to advise that LCSPs consider holding three of six meetings each year in private, allowing media attendance at the other three.
It says this would “achieve a balance”. The Department also advises LCSPs to consider limiting media attendance for their first year of operation to public meetings only. LCSPs are required to hold just one of six meetings each year in public.
The guidelines state that this restriction on media attendance will “allow for relationships and trust to develop” at a time when LCSPs are developing their work plans. This approach should be “reviewed as the partnership’s work evolves”, the guidelines state.
Deputy Brady warned that restricting media access would weaken those relationships and undermine the trust that underpins effective community safety.
“The work of the new LCSPs must be fully transparent so that people can have confidence that their safety concerns are being dealt with fairly, effectively, and in the public interest.
“The people of Wicklow deserve to know what is being discussed about their safety, their policing, and their neighbourhoods. Without open reporting, it becomes harder to hold decision-makers to account and harder still to ensure that community voices are heard.
“Restricting media coverage of LCSP meetings will only create distance between the public and those making decisions on their behalf. That is the opposite of what community safety should be about.” he added.
In a statement Wicklow County Council officials indicated the move will only be a temporary measure.
“The minister has advised LCSPs to limit media attendance at meetings during the initial phase of their establishment to create a supportive environment for open dialogue, trust-building, and effective collaboration.
“As each partnership’s membership comprises of community representatives, this initial period will allow them the time and space to become familiar with formal meeting procedures, understand partnership processes, and find their voice within the group.”
The statement adds that developing relationships and agreeing its workplan will be a key part of the new committee during their first year of meetings.
“Limiting media attendance will help ensure that all members — particularly those representing the community — can participate confidently and meaningfully. This approach is intended as a temporary measure and will be reviewed by the partnership as it evolves.”
The partnership in Wicklow has pledged to be open and transparent in their work.
“The minutes of all meetings will be made publicly available, once adopted, on the Wicklow County Council website. Wicklow LCSP will share reports proactively with local media as part of their communication strategy, ensuring that the public remains informed about the partnership’s work and outcomes.”
Speaking at the inaugural meeting, Emer O’Gorman, chief executive of Wicklow County Council, said the new partnership will shape how the local authority works to make communities safer, stronger, and more resilient.
“Safety is not just about policing, it is about tackling root causes such as poverty, inequality, mental health challenges, substance misuse, and social isolation. As members of this partnership, you are not here to represent only your own organisations, you are here to act as champions for the communities of County Wicklow.”
Speaking after his election as chair of the LCSP, Cllr Fortune highlighted how the new partnership could potentially be a game changer for communities across Wicklow.
“It is about the concept and development of a plan, so our communities feel safe. This will involve early intervention and harm prevention initiatives. It is also about building community confidence in service providers.
“This partnership will provide a forum for real discussion on community safety, and I look forward to working on making Wicklow a safer place for all.”
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the launch, saying he was pleased that the Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership has been established.
“This marks another significant step on the rollout of these partnerships nationwide and this government’s new approach to community safety. Bringing together local representatives, community groups and state agencies allows Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership to develop a plan that identifies community safety needs in their own area.”
He also thanked everyone involved in Wicklow LCSP for being part of this “significant new chapter in community safety.”
Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes attended on the night and highlighted the support from An Garda Síochána.
“We will share our knowledge, our experience, and our resources to our agreed goals. Just as importantly, we will listen with respect and act with accountability. It is not a quick fix exercise; it is the start of a long journey.
“Building trust, delivering solutions, and making communities safer takes time and sustained effort. But I have no doubt that the people in this room, working together; can make a real and lasting difference for the people of Wicklow.”