Shortage of gardaí in growing urban centres

GROWING centres of population like Carrigaline, Bishopstown, Passage West, Crosshaven, Rochestown, Togher and Douglas enjoy less permanent garda cover than anywhere else in Cork.

Figures released by Justice Minister Michael McDowell show the Togher garda district, which covers all of the southside of the city and its suburbs, has 127 gardaí of all ranks to cover a population, according to the last census, of 79,234 - one garda for every 624 people.

The figures, obtained in the Dáil by Fine Gael spokesman for Justice, Jim O’Keeffe, have blown apart the myth that it’s just rural areas which are suffering from a lack of proper garda manpower.

Out of 13 garda districts in the city and county Macroom came out second worst, with one member of the force per every 581 people. The Cobh garda district, which takes in Glanmire - one of Cork’s largest suburbs - was in third spot with a garda ratio of 1:566 people.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the situation in the Togher district is unacceptable. GRA national executive member Michael Corcoran said a minimum of 25 extra gardaí were needed in that district just to keep pace with the workload. He said there had been major increases in population in Passage West and Carrigaline since the last census.

Garda Corcoran said stress levels were increasing all the time among overworked members of the force, which resulted in sickness and members taking early retirement “in their droves.”

“There are situations where one man is out in a patrol car on his own. It’s not common, but it does happen,” he said.

He added that an extra 15 gardaí are also needed in Gurranabraher.

The fact there are better ratios in Bandon, Fermoy and Anglesea Street garda stations is because they are divisional headquarters and possess drugs squads and traffic corps. Anglesea Street also doubled as a regional headquarters, which explains the far lower ratio.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe has again claimed the Government cannot meet the promised target to provide 2,000 extra trained gardaí. He, like the GRA, is also concerned that strengthening the traffic corps will weaken the ranks of uniformed gardaí on the beat.

“The force lost 366 experienced members to early retirement in 2005, and its total strength at the end of the year is just 12,300. There is a long way to go before the force reaches 14,000 trained members,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

He added that gardaí remain critically under-resourced in key areas.

“Members are struggling with a 20-year-old walkie-talkie system.

“The €60 million PULSE computer system, which is only installed in a third of all garda stations, has never been fully operational, and the minister is spending €1m a month on consultants’s fees in order to keep it going,” the Fine Gael TD said.