February Edition 2018

A series of high visibility check points around the Meath area has increased our safety by removing several vehicles and drivers from our roads. Drivers and vehicles that should simply not be there: uninsured, unlicensed, unregistered, untaxed or unfit for the road.

I observed the one on the M3 which had a long display of vehicles lined up at the roadside where, for one reason or another, the drivers had been removed.

Check Points also disrupt criminal gangs using the road network so we're hoping to see more this year. If you are flouting the law then consider yourself at risk of being caught in future check points.

27,000 users currently follow their page Meath Crime Prevention so look it up and Join.

Initiated to enhance communication with the public it provides regular postings on safety information and advice to both prevent accidents and to reduce crime. Sometimes there are posts requesting the public to assist the Garda in obtaining information. A recent posting was shared to reach over 1.4 Million users. It is without doubt an invaluable means of communication that is bring about real results with the capture of culprits and the retrieval of property.

Neighbourhood Watch roadside signage creates 'No Go' areas for criminal activity. If you are not part of a Neighbourhood Watch group them your community is more at risk than those who do. Criminals want easy targets so form a residents group and set one up to deter crime.

An area map is now planned to assist Crime Prevention Officers in focussing in on areas without groups and by circulating the map among groups it will enable coordinators to communicate and have overlapping boundaries.

Marking and recording items isn't particularly difficult or hugely time consuming.

The Garda often retrieve items but if it's not marked by the owner then how can it be returned?

Some items could be priceless to you so why not invest some effort and start recording information including photos, serial numbers or any identifying marks on your valuables. At the same time mark them with UV pens or engrave/stamp.

If the Garda found your car and even if it were stripped of all personal possessions, display discs and even the registration plate they can still use the vehicle chassis and engine number to trace the owner. Your children's bicycle might not hold the same financial value but what makes it unique to you? What markings have you placed on it?

Likewise with the high value of mobile phones we've got the idea that we should record our the phone's IME number (Dial *#06#) so that it can be located or disabled remotely if stolen or lost. Some may have tracking apps enabled or even attached tracking devices. Simply displaying an email address displayed on the screen or having it written on the back of phone might have it returned.

We do write our children's names on their school uniforms but you could include your mobile number to have it returned much easier.

Why don't you do something very similar for all your household possessions that are of value to you?

Many people are often home alone for long periods and it's of greater concern if you're vulnerable such as the elderly or disabled. Safety Alert and Panic button devices are now more commonly available. They're not only applicable to residents in rural or remote areas but can be used anywhere and by anyone where the person feels they could be in need of assistance, perhaps as a result of needing help in the event of a fall.

More information on Muintir Na Tire website.

There's a fine line between personal freedom and intrusive surveillance and it is a contentious issue. Rules and regulations have this wrapped up in red tape for good reason. Unraveling and complying with the strict conditions is time consuming and often costly but the end result will have both the Community and the Garda in support. As importantly is the fact that it can be used as evidence in the courts of justice since there's no point taking images of a crime if it can't be used as evidence.

When linked to live monitoring from the Garda station CCTV has obvious real time merit in the detection and deterrence of criminal activity in progress. Automatic vehicle registration recognition is another key feature that isn't just for road tolls or penalty points. For example a camera on each of the 5 access roads to Johnstown would record details of all vehicles entering and leaving the area. Apart from reducing the number of cameras required it has 2 more advantages.

1. Linked to a central station the details of suspicious vehicles can be identified, circulated and tracked by computers to raise automated alarms.
2. Criminals will be deterred from carrying out activities within an area where there is a higher risk of being identified and captured.

Progress on the desire to have CCTV at Johnstown People's Park and in Johnstown Village are being discussed with the Crime Prevention Officers.

If it's not REPORTED,

It will not be RECORDED,

it will not be ACTED UPON!