The Garda Síochána has initiated a “refresh” of its Coastal Watch in the southern region.
The event was marked on Wednesday (May 13th) in Castletownbere Co Cork, by Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region, Eileen Foster.
Coastal Watch’s purpose is “to raise awareness and encourage those who live, work, or use the coast, to report unusual activity to help prevent and detect crime”.
It is a community-based, crime-prevention initiative involving residents, businesses, landowners, Government agencies, voluntary emergency services and An Garda Síochána.
“Coastal Watch is not just about policing, it is about presence, awareness, prevention and partnership,”the Garda Press Office has said.
“For over 30 years, Coastal Watch has helped keep Ireland’s 7,500km of coastline safe. This reinvigorated Coastal Watch initiative in the Southern Region introduces some changes to help support the great community-led work which makes Coastal Watch a success,”it has said.
It says that a Coastal Watch Liaison Garda Inspector will be appointed in each division in the southern region - Cork City, Cork County, Clare/Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry - to educate the public about the initiative.
The Coastal Watch Liaison Garda Inspector will work with local Gardaí to ensure information collected is channelled efficiently, and that intelligence reports are fully utilised, it says.
The Coastal Watch Liaison Garda Inspector will also be instrumental in establishing contact and maintaining engagement with key members of the public, and encouraging them to use local knowledge to indicate if something appears suspicious, or out of place, or odd,it says.
Secondly, to support the sharing of local knowledge, An Garda Síochána says it will be erecting new Coastal Watch signage in the southern region, which includes a QR code linked to an online form which allows people to report suspicious or criminal activities on land or at sea.
The types of activities An Garda Síochána is encouraging members of the public to report include, but is not limited to:
- Unknown boats landing in remote locations
- Ribs/boats with names removed or concealed
- Suspected illegal dumping
- Suspected illegal fishing
- Unexpected tyre tracks on laneways
- Vehicles parked in unusual places
- Intentionally destroyed vehicles
Speaking today, Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region, Eileen Foster said:
"Local knowledge is a term frequently used in policing, and it has particular relevance in this initiative. Coastal Watch is a crime-prevention initiative, and a community-based partnership where your local knowledge will indicate if something appears suspicious, or out of place, or odd.”
“ I would say to you all, trust your instincts and reach out to An Garda Síochána. You could be providing An Garda Síochána with vital information to assist us in our investigations,”she said.
"That is why we are here today. Coastal Watch provides us with an opportunity to harness local knowledge and to ultimately prevent and detect crime in our coastal areas by collaborating together.
"We want to hear from you,”she said.
An Garda Síochána says it invites coastal communities to report suspicious or criminal behaviour via its Coastal Watch form which is available on the An Garda Síochána website: www.garda.ie/coastal-watch/
