GARDAÍ in Ennis have been urged to consider the introduction of the ‘See Something Say Something’ initiative.
Initially proposed by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), the initiative’s introduction is aspired to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in the county town and also increase the feeling of safety among the public.
See Something, Say Something was first launched in Ireland by Tralee Chamber Alliance in partnership with An Garda Síochána in January 2018. The project is for members of the public who ‘see something’ that might need Garda intervention, to ‘say something’ by texting a confidential line via a free text message which is received by a sergeant on duty and is then acted upon by local Gardaí.
Since its introduction in Tralee, there has been a 25 percent drop in public order offences recorded and an increase in Garda personnel. A sum in the region of €5,000 is required in what local authority officials have labelled “a small technological financial cost” to get the scheme off the ground.
Speaking at the April meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Flynn issued a note of caution that public safety was diminishing. “We all love and are very proud of Ennis, it is our county town, for the next five years we will have seen over €15m invested in its public spaces, like all large Irish towns at some time there is a small element which negatively affect the quality of the town centre”. Safety of women in public spaces has been regularly discussed following tragic events in recent months, the former Mayor of Ennis noted.
Rising anti-social behaviour in Ennis was referenced by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) at Tuesday’s meeting of the Ennis MD as he encouraged the public to use the Garda confidential line when they witness such behaviour, in order to try eliminate it. “In recent times Ennis has got bad publicity, a petrol bomb was thrown into house and the drug situation in Ennis is very serious”.
He added, “We saw what happened in Sligo and the damage it has done, don’t let the same happen to our beautiful town of Ennis”. Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) seconded his proposal, “we are all concerned, every town has its warts and all, we have to manage it as best we can”.
Senior executive officer with the Ennis Municipal District, Leonore O’Neill confirmed they had written to Ennis Garda Station following Cllr Flynn’s motion “to request that they consider introducing the See Something Say Something scheme which has been successfully launched in Tralee and Swords”. Superintendent John Galvin has confirmed he will liaise directly with the Ennis MD on the scheme.
Details of the rising crime as mentioned by Cllr Daly was labelled as “quite disturbing” by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG). Gardaí held a workshop in April on the new initiative, he said. “We can’t let a small minority gain control by using fear”.
