New database to be created for Westport text alert scheme

Anton McNulty

A NEW database for the Westport Neighbourhood Watch community alert text scheme will be set up for the New Year with only those who have contributed financially will be added to the list.
The future of the Neighbourhood Watch Group remains in serious doubt after they were plunged in financial crisis after they were informed funds from Mayo County Council will no longer be available.
An appeal was made to the 4,000 members of the scheme to make a donation of €5 to cover the costs but less than 200 people replied. Each text sent by the Gardaí to each member costs €200 and at the moment there is only enough money to send out six text messages.
Members had originally been asked to donate through the bank but will now be able to donate the money to any of the scheme co-ordinators.
Joe Gibbons, Chairman of the Scheme said their co-ordinators will not be doing a door-to-door collection but will be available to take money from people in their areas. He said that the scheme is successful and has led to a decrease in the amount of crime in the area and it was important it continues.
“This will not be an annual collection, we hope to collect enough money which will allow us to keep the scheme running for a number of years. The initial response was disappointing but I do believe that people are behind the system and will support it. You just have to look at what is happening in places like Tipperary where there is a need for neighbourhood watch.
“People think the scheme is not working because they are not getting a lot of text messages but the Gardaí can only send out texts if they have information. Gardaí have informed me that because of the Neighbourhood Watch, they are receiving more calls of suspicious activity and are able to investigate them quickly. It is more important to prevent crime than to solve it,” he told The Mayo News. “We are setting up a new database where every person who has paid will be added to it. The system will begin on January 1 and if you have not paid you won’t be on it and you won’t receive a text message. There is a co-ordinator in every village and everyone should know who they are,” he said.
Anyone who would like more information on how to donate to the scheme can contact Joe on 086 2527403.