EVERY person in Kilmallock, Cappamore and Bruff will know who their community Garda is because every Garda will be a community Garda with an allocated beat.
Thatās according to the newly appointed Garda District Superintendent Brian Sugrue, who outlined his policing priorities at this monthās Cappamore/Kilmallock District meeting of Limerick City and County Council.
In a new approach to policing, the GardaĆ will be directed to return to the traditional local policing model.
āEveryone should be able to knock on the door of the station and ask āwho is my community Garda?ā Supt Sugrue told the meeting.
āAnd every Garda will be a community garda. Outside of responding to crime calls and traffic incidents, they will each be allocated an area where they are to focus on getting to know the people and the people will get to know them. The key is for them to know their own patch,ā he said.
Cllr Michael Donegan (FF) welcomed the new policing policy.
āThe drawback with GardaĆĀ responding to crimes in projects like Operation Thor, is that there are a lot of deep-rooted issues that have to be dealt with like anti-social behaviourā.
Supt Sugrue said that he also hopes to increase the staffing levels in Kilmallock.
āAs city stations get newly qualified GardaĆ, they are able to move more seasoned members to other stations and we can benefit from thatā.
Cllr Brigid Teefey (Ind) said she was ādelighted about community policing. Continuity is very important and rural people love to see a Garda because it represents security for themā.
Supt Sugrue said that if, after a period in an area, people donāt know who their community Garda is, that situation represents a failure.
The Garda must be visible and have good contact with local people. Older people and vulnerable people particularly need that security,ā he added.