Garda, business links explored

THE links between business life and policing were explored at a business breakfast in Waterford city yesterday, where Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy addressed delegates.

Organised by the Waterford Chamber of Commerce in association with the Irish Examiner and Ulster Bank, the meeting brought together leaders in business from Waterford city and county.

Speaking about the challenges of modern policing, Commissioner Conroy compared the running of a company to the management of the 12,000 strong garda force. He said both entities involved identifying priorities and following them up.

"For social stability and the progression of business, garda endeavour and commitment is necessary," he said. The commissioner singled out the need for greater garda visibility on the streets.

"Our success hinges in the effective delivery of service," he said. "We must meet the demands of our customers ... the most constant and profound of which is for more garda visibility."

The commissioner put forward a range of measures to ensure this happened: the recruitment of additional gardaí; the employment of civilians to administrative roles to free up more gardaí for "core front-line duties" and increased overtime. "Providing policing service must take account of the environment - one constant is the extent and range of change occurring all around us. This requires us adapting our policing and education programmes and maintaining a daily interaction with people of the community," he continued.

The commissioner praised the success of the Neighbourhood Watch and Business Watch programmes, but said more could needed to be done to reduce crime. He suggested the introduction of on-the-spot fines for public order offences and also said proposals to charge business owners for the privilege of having extra gardaí on night patrol was also under consideration.

"I'm aware of proposals for the deployment of gardaí, paid for by retailers, to streets where there are a large number of people, especially later at night. Ultimately the Garda Síochána is judged by the professionalism it displays in carrying out its duties," he said.

Irish Examiner chief executive Tom Murphy also spoke. He announced the launch of the new regional pages in the Irish Examiner.