Staffing levels drop in most Garda divisions

Staffing levels fell in more than half of all 28 Garda divisions last year, despite the deployment of almost 300 newly-qualified gardaí in recent months.

Figures obtained from An Garda Síochána show many parts of the country have experienced a reduction in Garda numbers notwithstanding a slight increase in the overall size of the force.

They reveal that Garda manpower decreased in 15 of the 28 divisions during 2015, including all divisions within the Dublin Metropolitan Region which has the highest crime rate in the country.