Local politicians have criticised a proposal to introduce private security guards to the streets of Dublin.
Last week, the Dublin City Development Company, established as part of Fine Gael’s Dublin City Taskforce, suggested that private security guards could help improve safety in the city centre.
Dublin City Council members have expressed anger that they were not consulted about the plans, which has become a recurring trend of the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition where elected members of Ireland’s biggest local democracy have to find out about major plans without being consulted.
Green Party councillor Janet Horner said that “Dublin deserves better.”
“Dublin City is my home, it is a place full of great people, diversity and strength; however it faces many challenges including anti-social behaviour and it needs far more support than it is getting,” the North Inner City councillor said.
“We need a focus on community safety initiatives, a more visible Garda presence on our streets, additional resources into the inner city projects for teenagers and at risk youth.”
The Green councillor said, “the government could and should fund and back the many plans that the council have brought forward to address anti-social issues in the city instead of underfunding us to the point that private security are needed.”
She criticised the fact that councillors were not briefed on the plan.
“I am really concerned about the lack of political oversight around this. Firstly, why was this proposal not brought to the council or community safety partnership who are the bodies responsible for safety issues?”
She said that any proposal that involves public safety needs “full transparency and scrutiny.”
Horner said the issue is emblematic of Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael orthodoxy: “throwing money at enriching a private security firm while doing nothing to address the systemic issues in policing the city or supporting vulnerable and marginalised communities.”
She stated that the issue is a social and care issue, not a control one.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon called the proposal “harebrained.”
“It does not inspire confidence in the government’s plans to regenerate the city centre if this is the best they can come up with to make people feel safer,” the Dublin Central TD said.
“Maintaining law and order on the streets of our capital is the role of Gardaí – and Gardaí only,” he stated.
The Soc Dems justice spokesperson said, “we cannot allow the government to abdicate responsibility for policing our streets by hiring private security staff – a move that would give rise to multiple legal and civil liberty concerns.”
“It’s hardly a surprise that it has come to this. The government is asking Gardaí, working under enormous pressure, to police a city they can’t afford to live in.”
“It’s little wonder that we struggle to recruit and retain members of the force,” he remarked.
Gannon said it was “outrageous” that councillors were not consulted about the plans.
He said the situation raises a number of uncomfortable questions for the government, namely what powers will these security operatives have, who will they be accountable to, and how will people’s civil liberties be protected.
“These are public streets. You don’t get to draft a tender behind councillors’ backs and then deal with these issues afterwards,” he said.
“People living and working in Dublin deserve to feel safe. They deserve Gardaí who have the time and resources to know their communities.”
Gannon added, “above all, they deserve a government that delivers on its commitment to make our capital city safer without resorting to unworkable gimmicks.”
Independent councillor Cieran Perry warned against “hysterical” comparisons to ICE in the United States.
“The current debate about private security patrolling Dublin city centre provides an opportunity to once again highlight the issues of policing in the city centre; the fact that we need to consider this move exposes the ongoing failure of policing in our city,” the Cabra-Glasnevin councillor said.
“As a councillor who has consistently highlighted the lack of visible policing in the city centre and the resulting open drug dealing, criminality and anti-social behaviour, I welcome any reasonable proposal to tackle the safety issues, perceived or otherwise, in the city centre,” he said.
“Councillors in the area, including myself, have called for increased visibility for years to no avail. It would appear to be a policy decision at senior Garda management level and government to limit the amount of Gardaí patrolling the city streets.”
Perry stated, “if government and Garda management have decided not to deploy sufficient numbers of Gardaí in the city centre or are not in a position to do so, I will reluctantly support a pilot community warden scheme to assist with community safety issues.”
The independent councillor stated that “hysterical comparisons to ICE in the United States cannot derail the conversation about safety in our city centre.”
“If the Gardaí are not capable of visibly policing the city, then a scheme such as the community safety wardens must be considered.”
He said that “citizens cannot be left in fear while in our city centre and I welcome this initiative by Dublin City Council and supported by Dublin Town.”
“Uncomfortable conversations need to be had if citizens do not see the level of policing they expect in our city centre,” Perry said.
The Irish Civil Liberties Union said they are concerned about the plan.
“The proposal to use private security actors to patrol public streets – as opposed to guarding a property, premises or a private event – raises a fundamental question: what does the project management unit and Dublin Town envisage being the legal basis for having private security actors on the public streets in Dublin?”
The ICCL acknowledged there are “legitimate safety concerns” that some Dublin city businesses have for their staff and customers, particularly after the events of November 2023.
“However, these concerns must be addressed through measures that are evidence-based, necessary, proportionate and respect the rights and dignity of everyone who uses our public streets,” they said.
In a letter to Dublin City Taskforce boss Robert Watt, they said that councillors must be given input into the process.
“The full details of any such proposals should be presented to the city’s elected members, including the precise duties, obligations and limits envisaged of the private security actors,” they wrote.
“These details should include the specific legal basis for such a move; and an evidence-based explanation outlining why private security actors are needed to police our public streets when that is the job of An Garda Síochána,” the ICCL said.
“Significant proposals such as introducing private security actors to police public streets should not proceed if they fail a necessity and proportionality assessment,” they wrote.