A NORTHSIDE TD has called for increased Garda numbers in local areas after figures she obtained from the Minister for Justice show personnel have dropped by 13 per cent locally since 2011.
Meanwhile, the number of personnel assigned to the Drugs Unit in the area has dropped by 34 per cent in the same period.
The Garda numbers at local stations are as follows:
• Coolock (117 in 2011; 100 in 2017)
• Raheny (68 in 2011; 71 in 2017)
• Clontarf (77 in 2011; 66 in 2017)
• Howth (39 in 2011; 25 in 2017)
The Drugs Unit personnel in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) was 32 in 2011 compared to 21 in 2017. The 2017 figures are up to April 30.
Dublin Bay North TD Denise Mitchell (SF) described the figures as “unacceptable”.
“Dublin Bay North is a growing area and the gardaí need the resources and manpower to effectively police our communities,” she said.
“With the exception of a small increase in Garda numbers in Raheny, the other three stations at Coolock, Clontarf and Howth
have all seen major reductions – not to mention Howth is no longer a 24-hour station.
“We want all our citizens to feel safe in their communities and to know that if they contact their local Garda station that they will get a quick response.
“With all the chaos that is going on at the top of An Garda Síochána in recent times, we should remember that the major focus needs to be on adequate staffing, resources and support at local level to allow gardaí to do their job to the highest standards.”
A spokesman for Department of Justice said the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda Divisions and the Minister has no direct role in the matter.
“Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the optimum use is made of these resources,” he told Northside People.
“The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime.
“To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
“We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of gardaí across every Garda Division, including the DMR North Division in the coming years.”
The Department of Justice spokesman said that specifically in relation to the Drugs Unit, in 2015,
the Commissioner established a new national Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
“The bureau continues to lead out the policing strategy for tackling drugs by demand reduction and supply reduction strategies,” he added.
“In this regard the bureau continues its policy of working with Divisional Drug Units nationwide in tackling supply reduction at local level.
“This work is further supported by other national units, including the Criminal Assets Bureau, in targeting persons involved in the
illicit sale and supply of drugs.”