by Louise Doyle

A NEW crime and policing forum replacing the defunct Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC) is expected to be in place in September.

Donegal JPC was disbanded late last year to make way for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs).

Concerns around the delay in rolling out the LCSPs had previously been voiced amid a number of sexually motivated attacks against women in Letterkenny and the north west.

LCSPs aim to prioritise the voice of local people in identifying and addressing community safety issues in collaboration with broad range of relevant stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of statutory agencies including the HSE, Tusla and each local authority.

Councillor Gerry McMonagle, who was the former chairman of Donegal JPC, told the Donegal News “there is light at the end of the tunnel” with the finalisation of plans.

“Being realistic, it is going to be September that we would have the election and selection of the chair and the committee.

“It is now just about mapping out the next steps and informing the other agencies and stakeholders.

“So at least there is light at the end of the tunnel because there has been a big void here since the Joint Policing Committee was disbanded.”