Lack of consultation with local communities, including Joint Policing Committees, is emerging as one of the main issues of concern about the new operational plan for An Garda Siochana that was announced last week.
The plan will see merging of the Sligo/Leitrim and Donegal divisions into one.
Local reaction to the plan is expected to emerge in detail from next week onwards as local councillors resume their meetings after the summer break.
Leitrim Councillor Mary Bohan says the last policing plan was called ‘smart policing’ — but she said it turned out not to be that smart.
Cllr Bohan says there should be more consultation at local level, and with Joint Policing Committees which were set up so as to encourage local input and consultation.
