10 new community Garda will increase visibility within estates
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT’s community policing unit has been strengthened by the arrival of 10 new officers, who started on the ground in local estates last week.
The new recruits have increased the community policing unit to 23, with their arrival a direct response to calls from both station management and members of the community for a stronger Garda presence on Tallaght’s streets.
Fresh out of Templemore, the recruits will predominantly be based in West Tallaght however, they will be available for other duties across the Tallaght district.
At numerous community meetings in recent years, residents have raised the need for a stronger Garda presence within estates and the rebuilding of relationships between officers and residents – particularly the younger generation.
Speaking with The Echo last week, Tallaght Superintendent Ian Lackey said: “I hope that these 10 new recruits assigned to the community police unit will increase Garda visibility and add a level of reassurance for people.
“I am sure that once they are embedded in their communities that they will yield results – and that they will engage with young people and the wider community.
“The majority of the new recruits will be based in West Tallaght however, they will be available for other duties right across the Tallaght area…and as community police will also be carrying out duties such as traffic stops and effecting arrests.”
The new team, which started in communities on Wednesday, range in age from their early twenties to thirties and are from right across the country – which, according to Superintendent Lackey, sees them bringing their different life experiences to the job.
34-week training programme
Alongside working in the community policing unit, the recruits will be undergoing a 34-week training programme – which will be based on and relevant to their work with communities in Tallaght.
An existing sergeant from Tallaght has also been reassigned to the community policing unit, resulting in two sergeants now manning the department.
Supt Lackey also revealed plans to further enhance the community policing unit with existing officers currently working across various other units at Tallaght – with an open competition for positions commencing in the coming weeks.
