Garda chief vows crime strategy will give results

LIMERICK’S new garda chief yesterday pledged that a new strategy to tackle crime which is driving shoppers out of the city centre will have major results.

Angry shop owners, recently staged a protest, blocking O’Connell Street over lawlessness which has hit city centre trading. Chief Superintendent David Sheahan told up to 60 business people yesterday that a new intensified community policing tactic is now being rolled out. He said: “I will be amazed if there is not massive improvement, so that by the end of the summer the service we promise will be delivered.”

Central to the new anti-crime move, is the division of the city centre into six Garda beats which will be patrolled by specific dedicated gardaí under two sergeants and an inspector.

The gardaí on each beat were individually introduced to the business people at yesterday’s meeting and as part of their routine they will call on businesses in each area on an ongoing basis. Business people in the city centre will also have dedicated mobile phone numbers to contact the city centre gardaí and these numbers will be open from 10am to 2am each day. A special email box has also been opened.

Chief Supt Sheahan told the meting in the Savoy Hotel: “I want to get out the philosophy and strategy which I will adopt as chief superintendent. The main strength of this [strategy] will be a policing partnership and protection through active engagement with the community, including the business community.”

He said this strategy has to be strongly focused and accountable to the business community, and it was up to him now to develop a strategy to deal with a wide-rang of issues from shop-lifting to begging.

Chief Supt Sheahan said the city centre gardaí would be his eyes and ears and “best mates and friends” to the business people there.

“There is a responsibility to both sides to have open communication. We have briefed our gardaí to call to your premises and to deal with issues you have,” he said.

He said there was an onus on the gardaí to ensure that people trying to develop the city centre can do so in a safe environment.

As well as the community gardaí, he said he had “artillery” such as the drugs squad and other specialist units to call on to deal with specific problems when they arise.

Superintendent Frank O’Brien said the six new city centre beats would result in targeted patrols and they intend to deliver on the commitments they were now making to the city centre business community.