Chris O’Dwyer, the Labour Party’s Local Area Representative for Clondalkin-Rathcoole has been liaising with local residents following reports of anti-social behaviour. O’Dwyer said: “In recent weeks there has been a noticeable increase of anti-social behaviour across the Clondalkin area. Not an evening went by over the weekend that I did not get a phone call from concerned residents who feel intimidated in their own homes. “Residents in Palmerstown Woods reported that a group of young males were going in and out of gardens stealing wheelie bins and setting them alight in Collinstown Park. Residents living close to Collinstown Park also reported large stone being thrown at windows, cars and passers-by. Other incidents occurred in Bawnogue, Deansrath, Woodford and along the canal.
“We need immediate action to combat this issue. The Government need to provide more resources for community policing and fund other interventions so as to limit the impact of anti-social. People need to feel safe in their community, they need to be able to access local amenities such as the canal without fear. “Local Gardai can only do so much and need to be resourced to deal with this increasing issue before there is a serious incident similar to what we have seen on the streets of the capital. “There needs to be a significant increase in public consultation on what community policing should look like and how it should function in Clondalkin. There needs to be increased focus on diversionary programmes and a roll out of other educational resources.
