Friday, November 06, 2009

Text alert service to warn teachers about paedophiles

AN alert text service to warn teachers of the presence of paedophiles in and around their schools is to be set up in Cork.

The Eircom-sponsored service will enable gardaí to warn teachers of known offenders or suspicious people lurking around schools in the Gurranabraher, Knocknaheeny, Blarney Street, Blarney and Ballincollig areas of the city.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who is in charge of the service, said the safeguard was just one of a multitude of uses the text service will offer.

Supt Cadogan said gardaí would use a computerised system which will enable different messages to be sent to different target groups.

Elderly people will be provided with information about bogus callers in their area and if they don’t have access to a mobile phone they can nominate "a buddy" who will keep them informed.

"We will also be able to supply youth groups with information, such as dangerous drugs which may be on the streets," Supt Cadogan said.

He added the gardaí were also hoping to input information from the ESB, city and county councils on topics as road closures, water and electricity outages.

It is also envisaged that the HSE will use the system to advise on health issues and, in particular, restrictions on hospital visiting due to swine flu and the winter vomiting bug.

Details of the COMET (Community Emergency Texting) service were outlined by gardaí at a community safety forum meeting in Gurranabraher last night.

The service will be free and it’s expected to be voluntarily taken up many of the 85,000 people living the area.

Supt Cadogan said people wishing to avail of the service could pick up application forms from Garda stations in Gurranabraher, Blarney, Ballincollig and Rathduff.

They will also be available from community alert and neighbourhood watch coordinators.
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