Launched formally
at the Cork County Joint Policing Committee which took place on Monday, 24th
October at 2.30p.m. in Vertigo Suite,
Floor 17, County Hall, Cork.
Ms. Josephine
Feehily, Chair of the Policing Authority was the invited Key-note speaker,
The meeting was
followed by a Press launch of the Cork County JPC Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021
and of the Joint Policing Committee supported Muintir na Tire / Community Alert
Property Log-Book.
The Property Log
Book, provides local community groups of which almost 1000 have already
registered with the Cork Co Council Public Participation Network.
The possibility of
combining;
1.
Involving Members.
2.
Crime Prevention and
3.
Fund Raising
Achieving as a
consequence;
1.
Restoration of stolen property.
2.
Convictions.
3.
Decrease in thefts and burglary.
By providing the benefit of;
- Having all details of property stolen to hand for a
crime report.
- Enabling Gardaí to restore recovered property to the
rightful owner.
- Enabling Gardaí to link the criminal in whose
possession a stolen item is found, to the crime.
- Deterrence factor of widespread publicity about the
logging of items, to criminals considering a theft.
- A measurable decrease in thefts – eventually.
- A valuable fund raising initiative, for local groups
who get behind the project.
- A valuable Crime Prevention and profile raising
exercise by local groups.
This project is not, and should not be confused with
property marking which is a valuable additional deterrent.
Gardaí frequently
recover stolen property, but then the problem arises as to whom, a particular
item belongs to.
Indeed, frequently
linking a criminal to a robbery, depends on a victim proving that an item
belongs to him.
The Property Log
Book is a long term project – because there is a mind-set change / paradigm shift required, which will only come
about as a result of members of local community groups promoting the use of the
log book and getting the message across that it’s a “no-brainer” not to have
the details completed should an item of property happen to be stolen.
This project is simple basic common sense, a focus on being
prepared for the worst rather than hoping for the best.
Recognising that
all community organisations face a dual challenge of how to increase the
involvement of their membership, and the invariable struggle to raise funds.
Cork Co Council in
association with Muintir na Tire - Community Alert will be distributing the
Property Log Book, in bulk at a nominal cost to community groups registered
with the Cork Co PPN and Muintir na Tire - Community Alert.
They hope it will
quickly find a place in every home.
The Joint Policing
Committee Strategic Plan 2016-2021 which was launched at the meeting describes
as being among its functions the need;
To identify and
promote actions that will enhance security – personal and property related –
within the Cork region.
The Joint Policing
Committee Strategic Plan 2016-2021 also describes as being among its functions
the need;
Develop a programme
of actions that will reduce the incentive for acts of crime to occur within the
Cork region.
Develop a programme
of actions that will increase the detection and prosecution rates relating to
acts of crime occurring within the Cork region. The Property Log Book fulfils
that function.
Diarmuid Cronin.
Community Alert Officer, Southern Region.
021 - 7339011
086 – 8567770
086 – 6000752