Reserve force will keep community links alive

THE Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has quite rightly announced the setting up of a garda reserve force in the face of opposition from the garda staff associations.

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.