Cooperation is key

A pilot programme of community cooperation which included the Magazine Road Residents Association (MRRA), University College Cork (UCC) and its Students’ Union (UCCSU), An Garda Síochána, and Cork City Council, has been held up as an example of good practice for similar schemes in the future.

The feedback from the pilot was heard at the inaugural Cork City Community Safety Partnership Community Day, hosted by the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) in Cork City Hall on Tuesday 21 April.

Catherine Clancy, a member of the MRRA said issues for residents started to emerge around 2019 as demographics began to change. Many houses that were formerly digs accommodation, were turned into permanent student accommodation.

She said that his led to a rise in large house parties in the area, which were a source of disturbance for residents.

“We had an incident one time, just up from Horgan’s Buildings, where you had a whole street of parties, and the gardaí had to come and remove over 300 young people. And that wasn’t safe for use as a community,” she said.

However, she said that they were able to turn things around with the help of their community gardaí and help from UCC.

The importance of community gardaí to the process was emphasised by all those present.

Community Garda Laura O’Connor said that a key aspect of the process is that the relationship between all the area’s stakeholders is personal rather than strictly professional.

“I’m working but it’s not like I’m working,” she said. “As a community garda, I cannot stress how important your community garda is, knowing your community garda. That’s your first response.”

The importance of that personal relationship was also highlighted by the representatives from UCC.

Anthony O’Sullivan, Community Support Officer at UCC, said that the part of his job that he loved the most was that it took him into the community to meet residents.

“If they need anything, I can go meet them on the street. I’ve been in their houses, I’ve had coffee and tea with them. It’s important for me that I leave them and they feel like someone’s heard them.”

During the Q&A, UCCSU Communications Officer Alex Fuertes-Roper said that the best way to expand the programme was to start with residents’ associations, get in touch with local community gardaí and go from there.

The attitude and approach of Community Garda Laura O’Connor was also highlighted by an audience member. They said that her friendliness and ability to de-escalate situations was something that should be taught across An Garda Síochána.

“She should be sent up to Templemore, because we have a great asset there that isn’t being utilised nearly enough,” they said.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.