200 garda boost for specialist crime units

Special crime operations are to be boosted by more than 200 gardaí in the coming year as new recruits come on stream.

Units benefiting include those targeting organised crime, fraud and sexual violence as well as a new team combating the growing threat of cyber crime.

Figures provided to the Irish Examiner show that up to 150 detective gardaí and up to 60 detective sergeants are to be transferred to Special Crime Operations during 2017.