Armed officers, dog units and riot police to be deployed to city centre

Senior Garda management have announced a “significant” increase in visibility in Dublin city centre including the deployment of armed officers, riot police, and dog units.

The plans, drafted up by Assistant Garda Commissioner for the Dublin Metropolitan Region Angela Willis, will see the Gardaí make use of an extra €10 million in funding granted by the Department of Justice.

The funding was granted in the wake of a number of high-profile assaults in Dublin city centre over the summer.

A statement from the Department of Justice read “the Minister for Justice is committed to ensuring Dubliners working and living in our capital, and those who visit the city, are safe and feel safe.”

“An enhanced visible policing presence is central to achieving this objective and Minister McEntee is in regular contact with An Garda Síochána in this regard.”

According to the Irish Times, extra armed units will not be on foot patrol and will be mainly vehicle-based.

“They are judged necessary to handle potential knife attacks as, unlike regular uniformed gardaí, armed response units carry taser devices and other less-than-lethal weapons,” they reported.

The plan claims that there will be an “enhanced visible Garda presence at strategic locations in Dublin city centre”, with uniformed Gardaí supported in the city centre by the Garda Air Support Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, Regional Armed Response Units, and Road Policing Units.

Discussing the plan, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said “this plan, drawn up by the Community Safety Partnership recognises that increasing safety is not just the responsibility of An Garda Síochána alone. It also requires significant input from the local community and other State services, such as local authorities, health, education and others.”

“While policing alone cannot solve many of the factors which contribute to criminality or people feeling unsafe, high-visibility policing is crucial to providing reassurance for all who live in, work in or visit our capital city,” she said.

The move has been called into question by both Government and Opposition TDs, with Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan tweeting “what works in tackling anti-social behaviour since time immemorial is community-based policing/diversion programs and tackling the root causes of deprivation and drug use. What we’re being offered?…. ‘armed officers, riot police and dog units’.

Labour TD and party spokesperson on Justice Aodhán Ó Ríordáin sarcastically tweeted “because adding guns to a scenario always works out.”

The most recent Sunday Independent opinion poll found that half of those polled were not satisfied with Helen McEntee’s performance as Minister for Justice, and a series of high-profile incidents in Dublin in recent weeks has brought the debate surrounding crime into focus.

The opening of a new Garda station on O’Connell Street has been called into question in recent weeks, with Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon stating that the station has not made a real difference to Garda or crime levels in Dublin city centre.

The announcement has been welcomed by independent councillor Nial Ring who represents the city centre area.

“A couple of weeks ago Asst. Commissioner Angela Willis addressed the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee and listened to the concerns of local councillors, local business owners and DCC officials and, following that meeting, we are all delighted that she now intends deliver on what was asked for, mainly increased Garda visibility, increased Garda patrols and a zero tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour,” said the councillor.

“I understand that the policing plan will see additional Gardaí stationed at well-known trouble spots on the main streets as well as on the Liffey Boardwalk.”

“The commitment that,  along with uniformed Gardaí, specialist units will also be deployed indicates that the Gardaí have responded to political, business and citizen concerns and demands.”

“The additional funding announced by the Minister will be used to pay for 16,500 additional hours of policing per month in the city centre – this is equivalent to an additional 23 Gardaí out on the streets 24/7 in the city centre. This commitment, coupled with the new recruits being allocated to city centre stations will hopefully achieve the visibility and impact we asked for and which the Asst. Commissioner Willis intends to deliver. We feel we have been listened to,” he said.