Waterford is one of three locations where local people will help draw up policing plans for their own areas in a series of pilot schemes being launched today.
The Department of Justice says the aim is to be more community-focused than the existing system of joint Policing Committees.
A report released two years ago sharply criticised the existing Joint Policing Committee system, saying some were run as "talking shops" with "no clear agenda".
Waterford, Longford and Dublin's North inner city were picked for the Community Safety Partnership programme because of a combination of a certain level of poverty, population density and crime rates, according to the Department. The scheme will run for two years.
Businesses, residents and local politicians will be part of the new committees, along with state agencies including Gardaí, Tusla and the HSE.
The partnerships, funded by the Department of Justice, will have an independent chair and develop its own community safety plan. They're set to replace the existing Joint Policing Committee structures.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said: “The community safety approach recognises that the problems communities face are not just limited to policing issues. Bringing the right services together, working with each other to tackle the underlying issues which impact on our community and the sense of safety within the community is at the heart of the Local Community Safety Partnership model.
"But what will drive the agenda and objectives of the Partnerships will be the community itself. The community needs to be central in identifying what it needs and helping to shape solutions.”
Training will be provided, including individual training for residents to develop their understanding of their role and to build confidence in representing their community.
After the pilot and evaluation process, it is hoped to roll out the programme across the country in all local authority areas.
Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh welcomed the initiative:
“Participating in this pilot will be a new approach and can only yield positive results for our city and county. This initiative is rooted in the community and will see Waterford community interests come together to work with state services to draw up local plans to prevent crime in Waterford.”
