Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership Officially Launched
The Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) was formally launched last Thursday, 4th December, with its inaugural meeting held in the Wicklow County Council Chamber.
At the meeting Cllr. Tom Fortune was elected as Chairperson and Selena Mckenzie was elected as Vice-Chairperson. In addition, a working subgroup was established to commence work on developing a three-year Local Community Safety Plan for County Wicklow, which will set out tailored actions to address the specific needs of communities across the county.
A total of 36 Safety Partnerships in every local authority area across the country are being established under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. The Partnerships will build on the work of Joint Policing Committees, expanding them to include broader community, voluntary, and statutory involvement. The aim is to strengthen collaboration across agencies and local groups, all working together to enhance safety and wellbeing throughout the county.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting, Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council said, “This marks the beginning of an important journey, one that will shape how we work together to make our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient. Safety is not just about policing, it is about tackling root causes such as poverty, inequality, mental health challenges, substance misuse, and social isolation. As members of this partnership, you are not here to represent only your own organisations, you are here to act as champions for the communities of County Wicklow.”
Speaking after his election as chair of the LCSP Cllr. Tom Fortune stated, “This is potentially a game changer for communities across Wicklow. It is about the concept and development of a plan, so our communities feel safe. This will involve early intervention and harm prevention initiatives. It is also about building community confidence in service providers. This Partnership will provide a forum for real discussion on community safety and I look forward to working on making Wicklow a safer place for all.”
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan TD welcomed the launch, saying, “I am extremely pleased that the Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership has been established. This marks another significant step on the rollout of these partnerships nationwide and this government’s new approach to community safety. Bringing together local representatives, community groups and state agencies allows Wicklow Local Community Safety Partnership to develop a plan that identifies community safety needs in their own area. I’d like to thank everyone involved in Wicklow LCSP for being part of this significant new chapter in community safety. I look forward to following their progress.”
Chief Superintendent Derek Hughes attended on the night and highlighted the support from An Garda Síochána, “We will share our knowledge, our experience, and our resources to our agreed goals. Just as importantly, we will listen with respect and act with accountability. It is not a quick fix exercise; it is the start of a long journey. Building trust, delivering solutions, and making communities safer takes time and sustained effort. But I have no doubt that the people in this room, working together; can make a real and lasting difference for the people of Wicklow”