Rise in garda staff for divisions with lowest crime rates

Two Garda divisions with the lowest crime levels in the Republic have seen an increase in staffing levels since the start of the year at the same time as the number of gardaí deployed in stations around the country has fallen.

New figures published by the Department of Justice reveal the size of the force — excluding gardaí attached to national units and Garda headquarters in Dublin — has fallen to just 11,407 with the loss of 162 officers over the past six months.

Most of the 28 Garda divisions have seen a reduction in the number of gardaí since the start of the year.