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The text alert system operational in certain communities, has been described as a ‘total game changer’, in the ongoing fight against crime. Photo: iStock

The critical importance of the current text alert service and the need to tap into new, social media friendly applications, were top of discussions at the annual Community Alert meeting in Fermoy last week.

The meeting was chaired by Superintendent Michael Comyns; along with Diarmuid Cronin from Muintir na Tire; Sergeant John Kelly, Crime Prevention Officer for Cork North Division and Sergeant Andrew Geary. Representatives from various local community councils were present.

Diarmuid Cronin described the text alert system as a ‘total game changer in communities’, something that has also changed the game for ‘criminals who intend to travel through our county’.

FIGHT AGAINST CRIME

“There are literally thousands of people keeping a watch out for whatever the gardaí send a notification out about. It’s beginning to be effective in the amount of crime there is and the type of crime in the various districts. There are in this district a very strong group of communities that have their text alerts up and running.”

Mr Cronin said the key to its success was in keeping it as simple as possible, calling the text service ‘a most effective weapon in the fight against crime’. While many community groups are beginning to use social media sites, such as Twitter or Facebook, he was resigned that the latter’s use in alerting the community should have been introduced five or six years ago.

One representative from Fermoy said they often update their community Facebook page with information that is beneficial in ensuring the safety and security of the local public, and said that posts on the site can reach over 2,700 people at times. He told the meeting of his belief that young people won’t pay for text messages, and it is imperative to make use of the various free applications available.

In agreement, Mr Cronin said that apps like Snapchat could possibly be incorporated in sending community alert notifications in the near future.

“Snapchat is a very simple, very popular application that many youngster’s are using on their phones today and it’s more or less instant messaging that disappears and there’s no reason that it can’t be used by a local community group as well.”

Other apps such as Viber and Whatsapp could also be harnessed as the cost of the text service is increasing year on year, while the volume of texts sent annually decreases. There has been a 15 per cent decrease in each of the last three years in the number of text messages sent in Ireland.

POBAL

Another area Mr Cronin addressed was the possibility that the Department of the Environment-run Senior Alert Scheme may be handed over to Pobal. If this happens, the country will be divided into 10 regions, with a supplier of equipment in each region.

Mr Cronin said Pobal specifications for equipment and services are not as high as they are currently for the Department of the Environment, and foresees a number of problems arising if this change occurs. Every single community group will have to re-register, and the standard of monitoring would be decreased. “If it’s not broken why would you go meddling?” he asked.

Lastly, he called for greater involvement from the community groups’ PRO’s, in attempting to increase the awareness of text alert services and other initiatives open to the public, with a view to increasing the number of people receiving messages and informing others about possible dangers.

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