A new local initiative is being set up to help safeguard both the people and the property in the Roundwood Garda district. This is the Text Alert system. It is an updated form of the Community Alert system, using mobile phones to communicate the information. The Roundwood & District Text Alert Group is affiliated to the Roundwood & District Community Council, which is facilitating the initial setup. Text Alert Groups are up and running in West Wicklow and the Roundwood area will be the first rural group to be set up in East Wicklow. The Roundwood Garda area encompasses Roundwood, Anamoe and parts of Moneystown and Laragh.
Text alerts are a way in which the Gardai can quickly inform the community of suspicious activity, burglaries, thefts of machinery, farm animals, along with general warning and safety alerts. All text alerts will issue directly from An Garda Siochana. The Gardai also need the community’s help in reporting any information of suspicious persons, vehicles or activity. Then the Gardai will evaluate that information. They will use their database of vehicle information combined with their knowledge of what may be happening in the community. No matter how trivial the information may seem, it all adds to an overall picture and may help to prevent a theft or burglary in the community. The Gardai see this new service as a modern approach to crime reduction. Community Text Alert schemes are being supported by the Gardai, Muintir na Tire, along with community groups and community district councils
New Text Alert signs will initially be placed on primary roadways. As scheme funding increases, secondary route signage will be added. Positioning of signage will be agreed between the Alert Group, the Gardai and Wicklow Council in order to gain maximum impact.
Volunteers from the community are urgently needed to distribute sign up forms to all households in the area in the coming weeks. If you can offer even a few hours help with this initial work please come to the next meeting which is being held on Monday 12th May at 7.30pm in the Old Schoolhouse, Roundwood.