Crime falling in face of community policing plan

A pilot project rolled out in South Galway centralising garda station administration has resulted in a reduction in crime, according to a senior garda in the area.
As a result of the success of a pilot Community Policing Model in the Gort Garda District, the implementation of the model to the entire district has taken place.
The project involves the creation of two administrative areas at Gort and Craughwell stations with each of the other five stations in the district being affiliated to their respective administrative area stations. Thus Craughwell is the administrative area station for Kilcolgan, Kilchreest and Ardrahan with Gort being the administrative area station for Kinvara and Shanaglish.
“The impressive reductions in crime achieved as a result of the introduction of the pilot model and the increased resources it bought has paved the way for the models full, introduction across the district,” explained Gort Superintendent Patrick Murray.
“The transfer or centralisation of administrative duties to Gort and Craughwell stations, where there is administrative staff, means that gardaí across the district will be able to devote more resources to active frontline policing rather than administrative duties,” he continued.
Superintendent Murray assured the public of An Garda Siochana’s “continued commitment and dedication to providing the best possible policing service for the people of Gort district.”
“The Community Policing Model introduced will enhance and revitalise the policing service provided by An Garda Siochana to the entire community in Gort district while also achieving greater efficiencies thus allowing a more visible police presence right across the district,” he stated.
The administrative changes will not reduce the services available to the public at the seven stations in the district, Superintendent Murray confirmed with all existing services at the stations remaining. He did, however, highlight changes to opening hours of stations across the Gort Garda District.
Gort Garda station remains open all day, every day; Craughwell station is open from Monday to Saturday, from 10am to midday but is closed on Sunday. Ardrahan is open on Wednesday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. The station in Kilchreest is open on Mondays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and Thursdays from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. In Kilcolgan the garda station is open every Tuesday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm and on Fridays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Kinvara station opens every Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am to midday. Shanaglish Garda station will open each Tuesday from 10am to 11am and Thursdays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
While announcing the roll out of the pilot project, Superintendent Murray also took the opportunity to say that an application has been made for the establishment of a Community Policing Forum in the Gort area under the umbrella of County Galway Joint Policing Committee.