Vol. 411 No. 4
126 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice his views on whether the substantial increase in crime in all areas is due to the lack of an effective Garda force on the beat; the plans he has to reverse the policy of concentration on mobile units which are less effective in combating street crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I do not accept for a moment that there is a lack of an effecive Garda force on the beat. Overall Garda numbers have increased since the beginning of this year. In addition, 250 additional clerical staff are being recruited for the Garda Síochána to enable an equivalent number of gardaí to be released for outdoor duties in the prevention and detection of crime. Most of these have already been appointed and the remainder will be appointed shortly.
It is the firm policy of the Garda authorities to maximise, as far as possible, the number of gardaí deployed on outdoor foot patrols. The community policing scheme has an important role to play in this regard. Essentially what is involved in this scheme is the assignment of individual gardaí to full-time foot patrols duties in a particular area. The scheme has proved a very successful way of providing a more visible Garda presence in urban neighbourhoods.
Foot patrols on their own, however, cannot deal with all crime situations. Mobile Garda patrols play a vital role in policing and are essential, in particular, in allowing a rapid response to calls for assistance. The precise mix of foot and mobile patrols to be used in any given situation is a matter best left to the professional police judgment of the Garda authorities, who assure me that their policies in this regard are kept under constant review.
