TOUGH RESPONSE

We need to clean up our streets and deploy more gardai to tackle rampant crime in Dublin city, says Helen McEntee

• Published: 7:00, 28 Aug 2023

FOLLOWING a string of high profile attacks, many believe that crime in Dublin city is out of control.

Last month, US tourist Stephen Termini was left in a critical condition following an alleged attack on Talbot Street.

A number of visitors from the UK have also received treatment following alleged attacks in Dublin’s city centre.

It was announced last week that armed gardai will be among specialist units deployed in Dublin city as part of a €10million overtime allocation in the capital.

Angela Willis, Assistant Garda Commissioner for the Dublin Metropolitan Region, said it includes planned “days of high-impact operations”.

There will be high-visibility patrols in and around the transport network while Operation Citizen will tackle street-level drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and the seizure of alcohol in the city.

Here, Justice Minister Helen McEntee says the Government is committed to building stronger and safer communities across the country.

MY absolute priority is ensuring we have stronger, safer communities, in our wonderful capital city of Dublin, and right across the country.

Our city centre is a thriving place and has been bustling with life this week and all summer as everyone who lives, works or is a visitor in Dublin, enjoys all it has to offer.

If we look at levels of crime internationally, Dublin and all our towns and cities are safe overall but, of course, there are areas where there are issues; where we can do better to ensure people are safe and feel safe.

I have consistently supported An Garda Síochána to ensure the strongest possible presence in our communities.

I allocated more than €2billion to our Gardai for 2023, a record amount.

Covid forced us to pause Garda recruitment, but we are now seeing bigger and bigger classes entering Templemore.

And I was pleased to recently provide an additional €10million to An Garda Síochána to support high visibility policing in Dublin.

We can see the benefits of this already — consistent, high visibility on the streets of the capital to reassure people, prevent crime and, where crime occurs, deal with it swiftly.

EXTRA FUNDS SPENDING

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, our most senior officer in Dublin, outlined how they are going to spend that extra money.

This includes: Increased deployment of the Garda National Public Order Unit in the city centre, with €2million dedicated to increased public order capacity.

An enhanced visible Gardai presence at strategic locations in Dublin city centre.

Uniformed Gardai supported in the city centre by the Garda Air Support Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, Regional Armed Response Units, and Road Policing Units to enhance visibility in the city centre.

HIGH VISIBILITY PATROLS

Planned days of high impact operations across Dublin.

High visibility patrols on the transport network and near transport services.

A focus on tackling street-level drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and the seizure of alcohol in the city centre.

Having more Gardai on the beat would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our men and women in uniform, who always step up to serve the public.

They will always have my gratitude and our support.

POLICING IS NOT ENOUGH

But increasing safety in our city, or anywhere, cannot be solved by policing alone.

High visibility policing is crucial, but it is just one part of a much larger picture.

Does poor public lighting make a certain area feel less safe at night?

Do derelict shops or buildings contribute to feeling run down?
Is there too much litter?

Are there too many services for vulnerable people concentrated in particular areas?

Are we providing young people at risk of falling into a life of crime with the proper services they need?

COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE A SAY

These problems can only be solved by many different groups — our councils, education providers, health services, businesses, sports clubs, planners — getting around the table.

Above all, it requires communities having a real say.

That’s at the heart of our new Community Safety Partnerships, communities drawing up their own plans on how to make their areas safer.

We’ve piloted this approach in Dublin’s north inner city and we will be launching their plan very soon.

But, make no mistake, where there is crime and law breaking it must met with a tough response and tough laws.

That’s why I have just passed new laws to increase sentences for assaults and for attacking our Gardai and frontline workers.

And that’s why passing laws to give Gardai access to bodycams; to set up a new agency to tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence; and to roll our new Community Safety Partnerships across the country will be my priority in the Dáil between now and Christmas.

Above all, we want more Gardai on the beat to help deliver stronger, safer communities in Dublin and across the country — and that is what we will deliver.