We have good reasons to fear auxiliary police

AUXILIARY police have a bad track record in Ireland. That well-known reserve force, the Black and Tans, did not endear themselves much to our foreparents.

Nor did the B-Specials who were implicated in crime, pogrom and anti-nationalist aggression in the North until they were disbanded in 1970.

The trouble with special forces is that they are not professional in training and so cannot be professional in outlook.

As a residents’ association activist for many years I would not like to see our estate policed by reserve ‘gardaí’ (the G-specials?). And I would worry about sensitive sectors of our society being policed by them.

Our memories of past special forces should not be so short. The formation of a reserve force is a low-cost gambit in a high-revenue economy. If implemented, it will return to haunt us all.

Michael Brennan

Oakley Lawn

Earls Court

Waterford