Gardai in the Sligo-Leitrim division have launched an initiative which is designed to enhance their service and make their operation more effective.
The recently appointed chief superintendent has promised a thorough review of the force's operation in the division.
Sligo's problems have been well documented in the past year. Despite signs that they may be finally getting a drugs problem under control, gardai have now conceded that the demand for drugs in the area is significant.
Last August, a seizure of £500,000 worth of cannabis and ecstasy was made in Tubbercurry in the south of the county. This was followed by the arrest last December of a local man in Holyhead who allegedly had a similar amount of drugs. Gardai claim the drugs were destined for the Sligo Christmas market.
Add to that the severe traffic congestion problems in Sligo town, the Traveller feud which culminated in a fatal shooting in Ballymote last May and consistent vandalism of cars, and there would seem to be many issues of local policing on which the public will have views.
"All aspects of our work are up for discussion," says the Sligo-Leitrim Chief Supt Jim Sheridan. "It will be a warts and all type of review."
A customer service panel has been set up to advise the gardai of the problems people have with the service. Members include representatives of the business community, young people, victims of crime, the legal profession and the gardai themselves. They will liaise with the established Garda quality service team to have their recommendations brought forward.
"I can guarantee the public that they will be listened to and that their views will be discussed and debated at meetings. I would hope that any recommendations would be implemented; if they can't be acted on, we will at the very least explain why it may not be possible or indeed necessary to do so," adds Chief Supt Sheridan.
He feels areas that will be topical include crime, the victims of crime, vandalism, public order problems, and traffic management. Keeping victims updated during an investigation and response times to call-outs will also feature significantly, he suggests.
Chief Supt Sheridan has placed particular emphasis on lowering the numbers of road fatalities in the division, and on clamping down on after-hours drinking.
The number of crimes in the Sligo-Leitrim division continues to be among the lowest proportionally in Ireland, but the numbers of road fatalities in the region rose last year.