New Community Policing Plan for the North-West Inner City

In recent days, myself and your local Minister, Paschal Donohoe T.D. met with Superintendent O’Brien and his senior management team in the Bridewell to further impress upon them the importance of maximising the increased resources allocated to them given that 115 new Garda officers were assigned to Dublin stations, including the Bridewell, prior to Christmas. 

As YOUR local Councillor, I am pleased to confirm to you that a new Community Policing initiative to serve the communities of the North-West Inner City will come into effect from March 18th next. This initiative will see 13 officers being assigned to this new and improved Community Policing Team. The unit will be led by two Garda Sergeants and will have a dual focus, including: 

• Community policing,  
• Targeted high impact policing. 

The new Community Policing Team will report into the Superintendent and the Bridewell senior management team. In addition to this welcome initiative, as more recruits are assigned to the Bridewell Garda Station during 2024, this Community Policing Team will be strengthened accordingly. 

The establishment of this new Community Policing Team is a vital step to:

• Act as a deterrent for all anti-social and criminal behaviour,
• Improve local Garda visibility,
• Ensure those who attempt and engage in anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour are identified and apprehended swiftly.

This initiative is an important step that will enhance the feeling of being safe, and secure on your own street and within your own neighbourhood. 

ALWAYS LISTENING, ENGAGING & COMMUNICATING

Be it through our WhatsApp conversations, our community group chats or meeting you at the door to your home, I know that many of you in Stoneybatter, Arbour Hill, Montpelier, across Grangegorman, in the Markets or along Infirmary Road have been concerned about policing locally in recent months. I heard you! I listened to what you had to say and as a result, I engaged directly with the Superintendent in the Bridewell to ensure the launch of this new Community Policing initiative as quickly as possible to provide the reassurance you have sought. The assignment of now 13 Gardaí and strengthening of the Community Policing Team in the Bridewell will, I believe, significantly improve the visibility of the Gardaí in the area and assist in tackling the issues and problems which have been of concern to you.

As YOUR local Councillor, I will continue to work with local Garda Management to ensure that that the strength of this Community Policing unit is enhanced as and when new Garda recruits are assigned to the district over the course of this year and into 2025.