Numerous international gurus, based on the studies they have undertaken, have told societies that police on the beat do not necessarily reduce the incidence of crime. The presence of gardaí is required not just for the reduction in the quantities of crime, but because of the reassurance their presence gives people. Many of the crimes that most upset people in their communities are not those that even make the Garda statistics. Walking home through many of our housing estates and running into youngsters who are intoxicated or affected by some other substance and who are abusive and threatening is what frightens and worries people. While these youngsters do not necessarily beat up people, although some of them do, they make life miserable for everybody living in the area. This misery is compounded by the belief of people that gardaí are invisible in their community. If the same incident happened occasionally and people knew there was a continuous Garda presence in the area, they would not feel as threatened or that their world was undermined. This is the way people in many communities feel.