Seanad debates

Thursday, 31 January 2013

Adjournment Matters

Garda Districts

2:25 pm

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know that the decision was made by the Garda Commissioner. He prepared a policing plan in consultation with other senior members of the Garda force. A substantial assessment was undertaken on how to affect efficiencies in the force and use resources wisely. It is ultimately for the Commissioner to determine where it is appropriate for particular members of the force to be stationed and the rank of those who should be stationed in particular locations. A broad range of considerations go into that particular matter. It is not a simple issue of assessing issues in a population. It is examining the history of crime in particular areas, where crime hotspots are, where the type of skills required within individual stations are in order to meet the type of criminality, and one that occurs in particular areas, and the nature of the work that is required to be engaged in when it comes to crime prevention.

Very different considerations can impact on the strength of the numbers that might be located within a particular district or division. It depends on its location and whether it is in rural Ireland or is urban. If it is in an urban or a rural area then the nature of those areas, the criminal history of those areas and the type of difficulties that have arisen are considered. The type of issues that might arise in, for example, Border counties can be very different to the type of issues that might arise in Cork and Wexford. There is a whole range of considerations that I know that the Commissioner applies in consultation with his senior colleagues. These are issues in respect of which the Commissioner has the legal authority to make these decisions.

With regard to operational issues, it is not appropriate that I, as Minister, or any other Member of the House, second guess the decisions made by the Commissioner who is an individual that is appointed to that position because of his level of expertise. I do not think it is appropriate or right that any Member of the House questions the intent of the Commissioner or his bona fides in reaching his decisions.

Of course with policing matters there is no absolute or final position with regard to any policy matters. Policy, strength, the workings within Garda stations, the operational specialties that exist within the Garda Síochána, the particular operations that are put in place to target particular people engaged in different types of criminality, all change over time. All of this is something that is under constant consideration and constant review.

The Commissioner has stated that the revised policing arrangements that are now in place will result in improved operational capacity while supporting the Garda Síochána's commitment to community policing. The objective is to ensure that the best possible policing service is delivered within all Garda divisions, including the Wexford division, through the introduction of revised policing structures and the efficient deployment of available resources. We cannot continue policing in the second decade of the 21st century when we have improved technology, better transport systems, better communication system in the same way as we did in 1922, 1932 or even the 1990s.

The world has moved on and it is the job of the Garda Commissioner to take account of needs in particular areas. I understand the genuine nature of the Senator's concern. Burglary is an area of concern to everyone. Crime is substantially down in 12 of the 14 crime categories. In 2011, before a single district was reorganised or a single Garda station closed, there was a spike in burglaries while crime was down in other categories. The efficacy of targeted operations has been established by Operation Fiacla, which the Garda Commissioner established in the spring of 2012. In the period from April to December of 2012, the targeted operation led to 3,500 arrests, with nearly 2,000 individuals charged and brought before the courts. That has been facilitated by a targeted operation identifying the individuals engaged in burglary and aggravated burglaries. The operation targeted certain mobile gangs travelling around the country, targeting individuals in particular counties over a period of days and then moving on elsewhere. This is what new policing is involved in, targeting those engaged in crime and trying to do what is possible in the area of crime prevention and detecting those who commit crime.

Arising out of the community alert and neighbourhood watch event held today, we have over 3,500 groupings engaged across urban and rural Ireland. We could and should have a great deal more. There is a need for communities in rural Ireland to engage in community alert schemes. Assistance is available within the Garda Síochána. Any area without a community alert scheme can benefit from the establishment of one with the assistance of the local community garda or Garda liaison officer. New systems can be put in place to facilitate people who feel threatened in isolated areas to co-ordinate and co-operate with one another and ensure that, where they have suspicions about individuals in the community, people can be alerted. The community text alert scheme, which has been set up on a pilot basis, has proved very successful. Instead of unnecessarily causing alarm in communities and causing people to believe they will be at greater risk because of station closures, I urge Senators, Deputies and colleagues in all parties to assure people it means more members of the Garda force will be available in patrol cars and engaged in community policing rather than sitting in stations. Members should encourage communities and individuals to volunteer for the community alert and neighbourhood watch schemes and to co-ordinate and co-operate with the Garda Síochána. My Department provides funding to assist in these areas. The schemes can be of substantial benefit to assist the Garda Síochána in reducing crime, particularly burglary. There are 13,400 members in the Garda Síochána and we cannot have a garda standing outside the gate or door of every person in every part of the country. No matter how good the policing is and how we reform and restructure the Garda Síochána, we will always have bad people intent on criminality and bad people with no conscience who are prepared to brutalise the young and the elderly for their financial gain. One of the great methods of assistance and benefit to the Garda Síochána is local communities providing information and taking action to prevent crime.

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