Reserve force will keep community links alive
What is wrong with a reserve force? They operate quite well in other countries.
I remember when gardaí did all the work now done by traffic, dog, litter and community wardens. Was their replacement a mistake? Does it take a fully-fledged garda to answer a phone, hand out a tax form, direct traffic, make citizen arrests or patrol estates for disorderly behaviour. This is an ideal vehicle for concerned people to give their time to the community.
I think the minister also recognises this as a way of keeping the gardaí in touch with the communities they serve because, at present, they reside where they like, travel long distances and have become remote from the people they are supposed to serve.
Even gardaí assigned to rural stations often choose to live in the larger centres. Their strength used to be working and living in local communities and gaining the trust of the people.
The minister has said he wants a community police force, not a commuting one, and I agree. I trust the minister when says that those recruited will work in conjunction with and under supervision of regular gardaí.
The staff associations may have concerns but they seem to be more about overtime, curtailed benefits and their patch being encroached on.
Brian McCaffrey
Clifton Crescent
Newcastle
Galway
