Gardaí arrest 16 during clampdown on anti-social behaviour on rail services

A recent ‘day of action’ saw high-visibility patrols of LUAS, DART and InterCity services, aiming to detect and prevent unruly behaviour on rail transport

A total of 16 people have been arrested this year as part of An Garda Síochána’s clampdown on anti-social behaviour on rail services.

A ‘day of action’ took place earlier this month, when gardaí conducted high-visibility patrols of LUAS, DART and InterCity services with a view to preventing and detecting anti-social behaviour as part of Operation Twin Tracks.

Local crime prevention officers and community gardaí also maintained a presence at Pearse Street, Connolly and Heuston stations, engaging with commuters and providing guidance on crime prevention.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has since revealed that 16 individuals were taken into Garda custody as part of the operation.

The day of action saw “proactive” patrols on LUAS and DART services across the capital on November 16, while eight rail routes around the country were also heavily policed in an operation involving An Garda Síochána, Irish Rail and Transdev Ireland.

Operation Twin Tracks aims to ensure public safety by addressing anti-social behaviour on board rail services, while protecting life and property, and engaging with the public to provide crime-prevention advice.

“The purpose of the operations is to provide high-visibility policing of rail and light rail transport within Dublin and nationwide, and to deliver crime prevention advice,” said Ms McEntee.

“A day of action as part of Operation Twin Tracks aimed at preventing and detecting anti-social behaviour on DART, LUAS and Irish Rail services took place on November 16,” she added in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny.

“I am informed by Garda authorities that a search of the PULSE database was conducted on November 21 for custody logs associated with incidents associated with Operation Twin Tracks organisation codes during 2023. The total number of custody logs created for this period is 16.”

Earlier this year, the Irish Mirror reported that more than 170 incidents of anti-social behaviour had been recorded in the first quarter of 2023, including thefts and assaults.

There were also 92 cases of aggressive behaviour on rail services during the same period, representing a rise of almost 27 percent compared to the same period in 2022.