Sinn Féin ‘would scrap Garda Reserve’

SINN Féin would scrap the Garda Reserve and make greater use of civilian support staff to free up funds to recruit more full-time gardaí, according to the party’s justice policy document published yesterday.

At the launch of Tackling Crime — Making Communities Safe, Sinn Féin justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said: “Crime and anti-social behaviour are on the rise. It is widely recognised that there has been too little effort to target crime in our communities. Too often the justice system has been too slow and in many cases the punishment has not been seen to fit the crime.”

He added: “For any incoming government the priority must be prevention. Crime costs. Preventing crime saves money in the long run.”