Cormac Devlin
Question:
570. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice the number of additional Garda patrols on public transport in the greater Dublin area as part of efforts to make public transport safer for users; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7576/22]
View answer
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 15 February 2021 where you sought:
‘The number of additional Garda patrols on public transport in the greater Dublin area as part of efforts to make public transport safer for users’.
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the report was to hand. Due to an oversight in my Department, your question went unanswered and I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to you for the delay in responding to your query.
I fully appreciate the concerns which members of the public have with regard to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity on public transport. It is essential that the public both feel safe and are safe while making use of transport services.
Garda management engages extensively with transport operators - including the National Transport Authority, Irish Rail (DART and InterCity rail) and Transdev Ireland (Luas) - to provide a high visibility presence on public transport through a coordinated approach.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a range of regional and local operations have been put in place to prevent and detect criminal activity and anti-social behaviour on public transport. For example, Operation Twin Track was a Community Engagement and Rail Safety Policing Initiative conducted by Gardaí in partnership with other public transportation stakeholders, with the purpose of providing high visibility policing of rail and light rail transport within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and nationwide, and to deliver crime prevention advice.
I am further informed that in January 2022 to further support, enhance and strengthen the strategic and operational objectives of Operation Citizen in the DMR, the Assistant Commissioner for DMR launched Operation Saul.
Operation Saul aims to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising public transport services in the DMR, together with reassuring the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy all its amenities.
Operation Saul currently operates in DMR South Central, North Central & South Divisions, however plans are ongoing to extend this operation to all the DMR Region.
The aim of Operational Saul is to co-ordinate and manage all working resources in each Division to deliver both an overt and covert policing presence around the environs of Luas, Dart and Bus services in Dublin, on a regular and where necessary a daily basis. This will be achieved through the following measures:
- Allocating overt beat personnel to Luas, Dart and Bus services to perform high visibility patrols to prevent and detect anti-social behaviour and public order offences;
- Reducing opportunities for anti-social behaviour while dealing proactively and professionally with any public order issue(s) through a zero tolerance approach;
- Acting to prevent and detect crime, preserve the peace and minimise disruption to Luas, Dart and Bus services;
- In partnership with partner agencies, An Garda Síochána deployed on duties under Operation Saul will achieve a common goal of making this service safe;
- Improve the quality of day-to-day life for locals, businesses and commuters of Luas, Dart and Bus service(s);
- Issuing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) where appropriate;
- Issuing Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPN’s) in respect of certain Offences, detected and where appropriate;
- Effecting arrests in appropriate circumstances;
- Record all patrols under the Operation Saul with Superintendent, Communications Centre on CAD incident number .
I am informed that each Chief Superintendent within the DMR ensures regular collaboration under Operation Saul with partner agencies in order to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative. Central to the success of this initiative is maintaining a strong partnership with our transport partner agencies.
Regular meetings – at least quarterly - are required to take place between members of An Garda Síochána in each Division in the DMR to examine any issues and review existing approaches and inform partner agencies on upcoming plans, operations and advancements in the area of managing these issues in the public transport sphere.
Over 130 overt and covert patrols have been conducted on public transport in the DMR since the inception of Operation Saul. These patrols have resulted in a number of detections and ongoing investigations under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977 as amended, the Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act, 1997 as amended and under the Criminal Justice Public Order Act, 1994 as amended, to name some of the matters under active investigation by An Garda Síochána in the DMR under Operational Saul.
Operation Saul is subject to a performance and assurance review by Assistant Commissioner, DMR and her senior management team to identity any trends or issues that may require effective corrective action. This review will include an examination both internally and externally with the assistance of partner agencies.
Operation Saul represents An Garda Síochána’s commitment to providing a safe environment for commuters using public transport services in the DMR and reassuring citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy all of its amenities.
