Menu
19/11/2015
More Garda Needed To Tackle Border Crime
The government has been urged to deploy additional resources to the Gardaí to help them tackle crime in border communities.
Making the call, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Louth Cllr Declan Breathnach also called for greater cross-border co-operation between the Gardai, the PSNI and other state agencies to help prevent crime and tackle organised criminal gangs.
"Crime has been a growing issue across Ireland, but it is particularly problematic in border areas. Gardai in north Louth are under-resourced and lack the necessary tools to effectively tackle criminals who operate on both sides of the border. This has to change," Cllr Breathnach said.
"Garda numbers in Louth are down nearly 12% since Fine Gael and Labour have come to power. They have allowed manpower in the force to fall below a critical level and this is having a detrimental impact on operational policing. There simply are not enough Gardai in Louth to adequately protect communities and prevent gangs from using the border to further their criminal activities. The Government needs to ramp up Garda recruitment to bring the force back up to the required level of manpower. Investment in the Garda vehicle fleet is also needed to ensure Gardai can properly patrol border areas.
"The Government needs to work to ensure there is greater co-operation between the Gardai, PSNI, Customs and other state authorities. It's only by working together that we can realistically target criminal gangs operating on both sides of the border. I believe the Defence Forces also have a role to play in gathering intelligence and sharing it with the Gardai to help track the activities of criminal gangs.
"It's time Fine Gael and Labour got serious about tackling crime in border communities. Fianna Fáil has devised a 7 point plan to tackle rural crime and wants to see more Gardai recruited and stricter sanctions introduced for people convicted of serious crimes."
(MH/CD)
Making the call, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Louth Cllr Declan Breathnach also called for greater cross-border co-operation between the Gardai, the PSNI and other state agencies to help prevent crime and tackle organised criminal gangs.
"Crime has been a growing issue across Ireland, but it is particularly problematic in border areas. Gardai in north Louth are under-resourced and lack the necessary tools to effectively tackle criminals who operate on both sides of the border. This has to change," Cllr Breathnach said.
"Garda numbers in Louth are down nearly 12% since Fine Gael and Labour have come to power. They have allowed manpower in the force to fall below a critical level and this is having a detrimental impact on operational policing. There simply are not enough Gardai in Louth to adequately protect communities and prevent gangs from using the border to further their criminal activities. The Government needs to ramp up Garda recruitment to bring the force back up to the required level of manpower. Investment in the Garda vehicle fleet is also needed to ensure Gardai can properly patrol border areas.
"The Government needs to work to ensure there is greater co-operation between the Gardai, PSNI, Customs and other state authorities. It's only by working together that we can realistically target criminal gangs operating on both sides of the border. I believe the Defence Forces also have a role to play in gathering intelligence and sharing it with the Gardai to help track the activities of criminal gangs.
"It's time Fine Gael and Labour got serious about tackling crime in border communities. Fianna Fáil has devised a 7 point plan to tackle rural crime and wants to see more Gardai recruited and stricter sanctions introduced for people convicted of serious crimes."
(MH/CD)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 November 2011
Cross-border Crime Focus As Drugs Recovered
Drugs have been recovered in an international cross-border operation that has again highlighted the fight against organised crime across Ireland, North and South. It has been revealed that a joint police operation thwarted an attempt to smuggle a £2m (€2.3m) haul of cannabis into Ireland.
Cross-border Crime Focus As Drugs Recovered
Drugs have been recovered in an international cross-border operation that has again highlighted the fight against organised crime across Ireland, North and South. It has been revealed that a joint police operation thwarted an attempt to smuggle a £2m (€2.3m) haul of cannabis into Ireland.
11 July 2013
Man Arrested In Connection With Deaths Of Elderly Brothers
A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of the bodies of two elderly brothers at their home in Castlebar on Wednesday. A home-help for the brothers alerted gardai at around 07:00 after she arrived at their home and found their bodies.
Man Arrested In Connection With Deaths Of Elderly Brothers
A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of the bodies of two elderly brothers at their home in Castlebar on Wednesday. A home-help for the brothers alerted gardai at around 07:00 after she arrived at their home and found their bodies.
20 December 2019
Fianna Fáil Call For New Cross Border Crime Agency
Fianna Fáil have launched a new Bill to provide for the introduction of a Cross Border Crime Agency. The proposed new agency would have powers to monitor and investigate organised cross border criminal activity in such areas as illicit trade, fuel smuggling and human trafficking.
Fianna Fáil Call For New Cross Border Crime Agency
Fianna Fáil have launched a new Bill to provide for the introduction of a Cross Border Crime Agency. The proposed new agency would have powers to monitor and investigate organised cross border criminal activity in such areas as illicit trade, fuel smuggling and human trafficking.
20 November 2015
New Bill Proposed To Tackle Rural Crime Gangs
Fianna Fáil has published a new Bill designed to help catch mobile criminal gangs in rural Ireland. The Bill, introduced to the Dáil by Justice spokesperson Niall Collins, will set up CCTV cameras at all major road junctions in order to assist Gardaí in identifying and apprehending criminal gangs using the motorway network.
New Bill Proposed To Tackle Rural Crime Gangs
Fianna Fáil has published a new Bill designed to help catch mobile criminal gangs in rural Ireland. The Bill, introduced to the Dáil by Justice spokesperson Niall Collins, will set up CCTV cameras at all major road junctions in order to assist Gardaí in identifying and apprehending criminal gangs using the motorway network.
03 December 2012
Six Men Arrested In Organised Crime Investigation
Six men have been arrested by gardai investigating organised crime in County Kilkenny. The arrested were made during searches co-ordinated by Thomastown Garda Station. A number of items were also seized during the operation. The men are being held in garda stations in Thomastown, Waterford and Wexford.
Six Men Arrested In Organised Crime Investigation
Six men have been arrested by gardai investigating organised crime in County Kilkenny. The arrested were made during searches co-ordinated by Thomastown Garda Station. A number of items were also seized during the operation. The men are being held in garda stations in Thomastown, Waterford and Wexford.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered sleet and snow showers will turn increasingly heavy and more frequent in the afternoon across the north. Largely dry with sunny spells in the south, but showers spreading here towards the end of the day. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
