REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH CONFERENCE
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH CONFERENCE RADISSON HOTEL, ATHLONE
Dia dhíbh, a cháirde go léir. Tá mé iontach sásta bheith anseo libh inniu.
As Patron of Neighbourhood Watch, I am delighted to be here with you today at the first National Neighbourhood Watch Conference. I commend the initiative of An Garda Síochána in organising this conference and I would like to thank Commissioner Fachtna Murphy for his kind invitation.
To me, two Irish proverbs describe the essence of Neighbourhood Watch.
“Ní neart go cur le chéile - there is no strength like co-operation” and “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann Na daoine - we live in each other’s shadow”. Neighbourhood Watch successfully harnesses the community spirit and neighbourliness which have traditionally been the cornerstones of Irish life. They translate the proverbs into reality by providing a means whereby a community can help to prevent crime and improve its safety, both by mobilising its own resources and by acting in partnership with An Garda Síochána. Through involvement with Neighbourhood Watch, every member of a community, young and old, can contribute to improving its quality of life and its peace of mind, all by keeping a look out for one another and contacting the Gardaí when there are suspicious or anti-social activities.
Community based schemes like Neighbourhood Watch and its fellow organisation Community Alert are tangible and practical aspects of crime prevention. They are also good examples of civic spirit, practical patriotism, of community in action. Like all good ideas they are simple in theory and in practice. They work well because their purpose is sensible and clear and because they bring immediate benefits to everyone - except of course those whose criminal activities or anti-social behaviour have the capacity to make life miserable at best and downright dangerous at worst. Crime prevention is not just a matter for An Garda Síochána - they cannot be everywhere all the time. But we can be extra eyes and ears, additional sources of information and assistance and if we all make the best effort in partnership with the gardaí we make ourselves, our homes and our streets safer for all.
Some groups are particularly vulnerable - the elderly, those living alone, teenagers - and they need as much reassurance as we can muster for living in a climate of fear is not a healthy or happy way to live. Neighbourhood Watch is one way of creating a climate of reassurance. It is also one way of making a real contribution to healthy community life. Ireland has a tremendous track record when it comes to volunteering for community work which is just as well for Neighbourhood Watch depends on that culture of volunteering. The new Neighbourhood Watch Strategy launched in October of last year sets out a clear five year plan which takes into account the significant changes we are undergoing - social, economic, demographic, employment, cultural, housing and policing. Today’s conference provides an opportunity for all involved in Neighbourhood Watch to assess the response to the Strategy and encourage more and more individuals and communities to be pro-active in crime prevention.
It is particularly appropriate that this inaugural annual meeting is taking place during Garda Community Safety Week for the message from this week is also the message of Neighbourhood Watch - that the closer we are as community looking out for one another and the more responsibility we take for sensible precautions and a culture of cooperation with the police, the more difficult we make life for the criminal.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Neighbourhood Watch, to its many volunteers, scheme co-ordinators and Garda liaison officers, whose dedication is absolutely vital to the successful running of the schemes. Their success means greater public safety and peace of mind so let us hope that Neighbourhood Watch will continue to go from strength to strength.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.