Garda cuts ‘will harm fight against crime’

GARDA staff associations have made stark warnings about the effect cutting Garda numbers will have in combating crime.

The two main representative bodies accused the Government of being shortsighted in ending recruitment into the force for two years, and probably more.

As reported in the Irish Examiner on Monday, the last 126 graduates of the Garda Training College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, will leave tomorrow.

The Government is implementing the agreement made with the IMF to cut Garda numbers from 14,500 to 13,500 by the end of this year and to 13,000 by 2014.

The staff associations have said it could be 2014, or even 2016, before any recruits are brought in.

“The whole thing is a mistake, it is shortsighted,” said John Redmond, deputy general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors. “While I accept the Government is in a difficult position with regard to public finances, there is one significant growth industry in any recession and that’s crime and we’ve seen that throughout the world and Ireland is no different to any other country.”

He claimed the current average ratio in Europe of police to civilians was one to 314 people, but in Ireland, it was one to 346.

Mr Redmond said he didn’t know of any research by the Government that showed the country could operate with 13,000 gardaí. A previous justice minister had said the country needed 16,000 gardaí, he noted.

Damien McCarthy, president of the Garda Representative Association, accused the Government of taking a risky strategy.

“What the Government is doing is gambling with the fact that if they reduce garda numbers, they will save money. It’s not going to work. During a recession, crime rises. If you have reduced Garda numbers, there’s going to be a serious consequence, it’s going to spiral out of control.

“The Government needs to take appropriate action and ensure there’s adequate number to police the state.”

Mr McCarthy said the proposed Garda Tactical Training Unit at Clonmore, 10km from the college, was still derelict. This site has already cost €5.5 million.

Garda sources told the Irish Examiner that 800 gardaí were expected to retire early this year, having completed 30 years’ service.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he would address the issue in Templemore tomorrow.