180 gardaí ‘released’ from station desk duties

More than 180 gardaí have been “released” from desk duties as a result of the first tranche of station closures and reduced opening hours, the Garda Inspectorate has said.

The body said that, as a result of its call to release gardaí from administrative duties at Garda stations, some 39 stations had been closed, while the opening hours of 10 stations had been cut.

In a report published yesterday, the Garda Inspectorate said: “This will result in some members being released from administrative duties to other tasks within the districts they are currently working in.

“The closure of 39 Garda stations resulted in the transfer of 167 members, while the reduction in opening hours releases 16 members.”

This is the first time a figure has been made public on the number of gardaí who have been “freed up” by station closures and reduced opening hours.

The study is a status report on recommendations the inspectorate made in a 2010 report on resource allocation.

The status report said more stations were expected to close or have their hours cut.

This is a reference to the second tranche of closures due to be announced by Justice Minister Alan Shatter later this year. This will be on foot of a report by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

Last July, the Irish Examiner revealed up to 100 stations would close under the second raft. Last month, a conference of senior officers heard the number would be as many as 80 stations.

John Parker, president of the Garda Representative Association, said: “The closure of Garda stations has not resulted in extra gardaí available for operational duties.

“The continued reduction in Garda numbers has profoundly impacted upon this, with fewer and fewer gardaí available to meet the demands of a modern policing service.

“New Garda rosters have put more gardaí on duty at times of peak demand of antisocial behaviour; but policing is unpredictable and it is never certain where and when gardaí will be most needed.”

He said: “The closure of Garda stations does not release gardaí from administrative roles, they are assigned to similar tasks wherever they are based.”

He said the figures of 167 included the closure of Harcourt Terrace and Whitehall garda stations in Dublin.

He said that these gardaí were operational in their locality and had been redeployed to nearby stations.

He added: “The ongoing civilianisation process has replaced many Garda administrative roles — and it would be a public misconception to suggest there is a significant proportion of desk-bound gardaí.

“Station closures can be likened to moving the deck chairs around on the Titanic — the country simply needs more gardaí.”