Crime stats could signal more rural station closures

AT a time when reported crime is down across the county, CSO figures show seven Clare garda stations recorded less than 30 committed offences for 2011, which has fuelled fears locally that these stations may be at risk of closure.

Labasheeda Garda Station had the lowest figure with just five recorded offences. Stations at Ennis and Shannon recorded the highest number of offences at 1,750 and 534 respectively.
Although the number of offences detected in the Ennis/Shannon district is the highest in the county, the district remains without a superintendent. In comparison, the Ennistymon district, which has a superintendent, only recorded 457 offences in 2011 across the eight stations it encompasses.

Chief Superintendent John Kerin acknowledged there is a huge difference. “The workload is significantly different. I am concerned that the superintendent’s position has been vacant for some time now. It is a position that does require filling. Ennis district is one of the busiest districts in the country. I’ve made my feelings known to my authorities. I know they are conscious of them and I’m hoping it will be filled sooner rather than later.”

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has indicated further station closures are on the way across the country. Ahead of the Dáil resuming next month, garda unions are worried about what may lie ahead.

Garda Paul Crowley, central executive committee representative with the Garda Representatives’ Association and who is based in Clare, indicated any closures would leave rural communities in a vulnerable position.
“We’re opposed to the closures of rural stations as it will leave vast areas of countryside unprotected. Our view is that the members working in these areas are acting as more of a deterrent and the value of their effectiveness in an area shouldn’t be underestimated. In many cases, they are living in the communities and are providing a very valuable service,” he said.

Speaking about the stations that recorded fewer than 30 crimes in 2011, Garda Crowley believes communities in these areas “would be very much in fear of what could happen if these stations were to be closed”.
“At this moment in time, the commissioner hasn’t issued a list of stations that are going to close but you can be sure that Clare will not escape the cutting edge,” he noted.
Garda Crowley added the embargo on recruitment would also have to be reviewed as the non-replacement of staff who have retired or moved on through promotion means there is less gardaí on the ground.
“Recruitment needs to be a serious concern for Government now because numbers are declining and we won’t have the manpower to deal with everything,” he said.

Inspector Michael Gallagher of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, who is also stationed in Clare, added, “We have no information of any other stations closing at the present time but we are fearful that other stations will close in the division. We are fearful it is on the horizon and we hope to engage with garda management in the near future.”

Meanwhile, Clare TD Timmy Dooley described the recently released CSO figures as a “cynical attempt to mask the need for the closure of garda stations”.
“Crime recorded at a station is not an appropriate way of measuring the benefits of a guard in the community. The presence of gardaí in rural communities is as much about crime prevention as it is about recording crime. I would argue if you turn those figures on their heads, you would recognise that the presence of gardaí has prevented criminal activity in these communities,” Deputy Dooley said.

He argued there is a need to maintain and continue the current rural policing model on two fronts – the first being it removes fear from a community when they know they are being policed and patrolled effectively.
“Effective rural policing has prevented much of the criminal activity spilling out into rural areas. We have seen in the past where there has been an attempt to reduce rural policing and the result is the increase in the level of burglaries in communities. There was an area in East Clare particularly targeted. I have no doubt that the criminal fraternity are watching developments and as garda stations close in rural areas, sure as night follows day, burglaries will increase,” he concluded.

Government TD Pat Breen said no decision has yet been made on the closure of garda stations. “I certainly would be cautious of closing any garda station at the moment. I think a garda presence is extremely important. Having said all that, I think there are new means of detecting crime now and while presence is extremely important, I think public awareness and the public being on alert and reporting any unusual incidents play an important part in solving crimes, irrespective of whether there is a garda station in place. We had a lot of rumour last year about Broadford and several other stations closing and then only one garda station closed,” he said.