Dogs and horses join city patrols

DOGS and horses went on the beat in Limerick yesterday.

As part of a new strategy for policing in the city, head of the Limerick Garda Division Chief Superintendent Gerry Kelly has introduced specially trained dogs to go out on patrol with uniformed garda handlers and a mounted unit. The plans were revealed in the Irish Examiner on Tuesday.

“More national resources are being provided to assist in providing a quality police service to the people of Limerick,” Chief Supt Kelly said.

He said the mounted units and dog partrols would be deployed to assist in the proactive patrolling of the city and its environs.

As part of a ‘getting to know you exercise’, the members of the Garda Mounted Unit will be visiting local schools.

“These policing responses are being put in place to enhance the safety and security of the people of Limerick,” he said.

While crimes involving fights and drunkenness on Limerick streets are down 50% this year due to the success of Operation Encounter, which tackles antisocial behaviour, Chief Supt Kelly said the new dog unit would be of further assistance in reducing crime.

Uniformed gardaí will manage the dog unit.

“Specially trained dogs can be used for a wide variety of policing purposes such as drugs searches and for street patrols,” he said. There will be mounted patrols on a walk along the Shannon where there have been numerous muggings.