TD’s concerns over Northside community policing numbers

A LOCAL TD has called on the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner to increase the number of Community Gardaí on the Northside.

Deputy Róisín Shortall, co-leader of the Social Democrats, claimed that the number of Community Gardaí has been slashed in the past decade, with nine out of the last 10 years seeing a reduction in the numbers across the Dublin North, West and North Central Divisions. In the last year alone, DMR North lost close to a quarter of its Community Gardaí.

“Since 2009, the numbers have gone from 332 Community Gardaí across Dublin’s North, West and North Central Divisions down to only 184 at the end of November last year,” the Dublin North West TD said. “That’s only 55 percent of the strength 10 years ago and raises particular concern because our area has the highest number of juvenile referrals in the country.

“Community policing is supposed to be a cornerstone of An Garda Síochána’s strategy. It promotes community engagement and develops public trust in the gardaí, which reduces anti-social behaviour and juvenile crime. It is about taking a preventative, community-first approach to policing.”

She added: “It is short-sighted and counter-productive to have slashed Community Gardaí numbers over the past decade. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, has stated that an increased focus on this type of policing will improve safety in local communities, and yet we have not seen action to back up his words.

“In fact, the Garda Commissioner told the Justice Committee in September that community policing is central to its new operating model and that the target is for 50-60 percent of all resources to be devoted to this area. The Minister and the Commissioner need to follow through with real, immediate action because the reality is that the number of Community Gardaí in Dublin’s three Northern Divisions is only 8.2 percent of the overall force – far from the target.”