Fingal Local Community Safety Partnerships

Community safety is about much more than policing and crime alone. It is about ensuring that people are both safe and feel safe in their local area. This can include a wide range of factors such as visible Garda presence, good street lighting, and the availability of safe spaces for children to play.

Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) are a new Government initiative established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, replacing the former Joint Policing Committee structures. LCSPs bring together local residents, community and voluntary groups, elected councillors, and statutory agencies to work collaboratively to identify and address community safety issues at a local level.

A core principle of the LCSP model is that community safety is a shared responsibility. While An Garda Síochána plays a vital role, effective community safety also depends on close cooperation with other public services, including health, youth and social services. Just as importantly, LCSPs are guided by the voices of local communities, focusing on the safety concerns that matter most to them.

Each LCSP will identify and prioritise local safety issues, develop a Local Community Safety Plan, and coordinate a joined-up, multi-agency response. Through this collaborative approach, LCSPs aim to strengthen confidence in public services and, above all, help people feel safer in their communities.

In Fingal, two LCSPs are being established: Fingal North and Fingal West. Each of these partnership will be led by an elected chairperson and will bring together residents, community organisations, business representatives, councillors, the local authority, and State agencies such as An Garda Síochána, Tusla and the HSE. Together, they will develop and deliver Local Community Safety Plans tailored to the specific needs of their areas.