Armed Gardaí Are Being Deployed in Dublin City Centre
Armed Gardaí Are Being Deployed in Dublin City Centre
Words: Dray Morgan
An Garda Siochana have announced their newest plan to tackle unsafety in Dublin, including armed Gardaí, Dog Units and ten million euro for overtime.
Following a spate of violent attacks in the city, Gardaí are increasing concentration on Operation Citizen, the name of the ongoing plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Dublin.
Gardaí are set to target problem areas such as O’Connell Street and the surrounding area in addition to the Liffey boardwalk. 20 percent of the ten million euro allocated will go directly to improving the safety of Dublin’s streets.
A strong focus on combatting street-level drug dealing, anti social behaviour and public drinking has been promised in order to work towards a safer Dublin.
Gardaí are also implementing specific days of “high impact visibility”. which focuses on enforcing checkpoints, arrest warrants, immigration checks and road traffic incidents.
Armed Gardaí will not have a foot presence on the city street however, will be present inside vehicles. They are deemed necessary due to the increase in knife attacks witnessed throughout the city centre. This includes the assault on a tourist on Talbot Street as well as the 09:00 stabbing of a man on Grafton Street.
“High impact visibility” patrols are also to be implemented around public transport hotspots at peak hours in order to combat issues at Luas and Bus stops.
Justice Minister, Helen McEntee released a statement hoping “it solves the issues of feeling unsafe, and makes the city a safe place for all to live, work and visit”.
Gardaí claimed that in the past seven days they have made 545 arrests, 1667 patrols, conducted 722 searches and 210 checkpoints.
Elsewhere on District: Gardaí raided vacant property housing homeless people
