A DECISION to deny members of the media full access to policing committee meetings has been criticised by Bob Hughes, the executive director of Local Ireland, the association representing regional news publishers.

Cork County Council held its first policing committee meeting, now reformatted as the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP), last week, and members of the media were not in attendance.

Cllr John Michael Foley (FG), who is a representative on the Safety Partnership, told The Southern Star he is not aware if a ministerial decision from the Department of Justice has been issued restricting media access to the meetings.

The National Office for Community Safety, which is an office of the Department of Justice, issued a comprehensive guidance document for the establishment and operation of Local Community Safety Partnerships to chief executives of local authorities, and their staff, to support the establishment of the Safety Partnership in their areas.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said: ‘Transparency and accountability to the general public and media are an important factor of the Safety Partnerships’ work.

‘The guidance provides that Safety Partnerships can facilitate media attendance at meetings​,at their discretion​, and by way of a request to the chair.’

The spokesperson also stated that the guidance allows Safety Partnerships ‘give consideration to holding some meetings in private to allow for relationship building and early trust to develop among members and as work plans are being agreed and developed.’

The spokesperson also noted that this approach ‘should be reviewed as the Partnership’s work evolves.’

In Cork county, Cllr Foley only made it onto the Local Community Safety Partnership panel following his appointment as ‘a community representative’ by the chief executive of Cork County Council.

Under the new format, only seven public representatives are allowed to attend, but Cork County Council has eight municipal districts, so it required an executive function to secure a spot for the Bandon-Kinsale Municipal District representative.

The executive director of Local Ireland, which represents 37 local newspapers, said he raised the matter with the department and a spokesperson issued a statement saying: ‘The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is not limiting media access to Local Community Safety Partnerships.’

The department spokesperson said councils may hold as many meetings as required​, but must meet at least six times a year, including one public meeting. The spokesperson noted that while LCSPs are hosted by local authorities, they are not a committee of the council.

According to Mr Hughes, the guidelines offer councils the option of declining media access to all but one of the meetings, and, as a result: ‘There has been a scattergun approach across the country.’

The executive director said any decision that would limit media access ‘flies in the face of government supports for local democracy reporting.’

Previously, the joint policing meetings saw detailed garda crime statistics for each area being printed in full.

Mr Hughes described these policing meetings as being ‘of legitimate public interest – a fact that has been recognised by the local authorities that are welcoming the media to attend all Community Safety Partnership meetings.’

A spokesperson for Cork County Council said guidance provided that Safety Partnerships may facilitate attendance by the media at meetings at their discretion.

The spokesperson further added that at the LCSP’s inaugural meeting it was agreed that media attendance would be limited to public meetings in its first year for relationships and trust to develop among members.

Its first public meeting will be held later in 2026, the spokesperson said.