‘The public have never felt as close to their local garda’ - Minister

LAUNCH New Garda Community Engagement Units unveiled

“At times of crisis, as a State and a society, the women and men of An Garda Síochána protect us.”

Those were the opening words by the Minister for Justice in officially launching the new Cavan/Monaghan Community Engagement Unit last week.

Minister Heather Humphreys added of the men and women across this country to serve in blue: “They work to shield us from harm and protect the vulnerable. They connect our communities and, often, they are the ones to break difficult news and support us in moments of intense grief.

“Indeed, I think it is that commitment – to family, to community and to country – that defines An Garda Síochána at its best.”

The team of officers have been operational within their roles since mid-May. Four dedicated community engagement units cover each of the four garda districts in the Cavan Monaghan Garda Division - Cavan, Bailieborough, Monaghan and Carrickmacross.

They work in partnership with the community to keep people safe, particularly the eldery and most vulnerable, hard to reach groups, and the youth demographic.

The new unit will promote and develop initiatives such as the Schools Programme, Business Watch, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert. In addition, community gardaí will also offer support and guidance to families in difficult circumstances.

Speaking at the launch, Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken said: “I look forward to enhancing our community policing footprint going forward and embrace the opportunity for greater collaborative engagement with our partner agencies to meeting the diverse needs of our people in Cavan and Monaghan and to build stronger and safer communities.”

Minister Humphreys meanwhile paid tribute to those members of the force who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duties.

Earlier this month An Garda Síochána marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, as well as the first anniversary of the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Strong and supportive

The new unit, she stated, will help residents to “prevent crime” by supporting initiatives such as Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert, as well as working with other stakeholders to help curb crime and vandalism.

“Community policing is a proactive, solution-based and community-driven form of policing and I want to wish the members of this unit the very best as they embark on their duty.”

Each of the four community garda units will now act as a visible point of contact for the community and the operation will be overseen by Inspector Ann-Marie Lardner.

She has 20 years of service, the majority served in the Cavan/Monaghan Division.

In County Cavan, Inspector Lionel Mullally, who has 30 years of service, will oversee the community engagement unit.

He has worked closely with communities and organisations across the midlands in establishing crime prevention programmes for older people, residents’ groups and has worked closely with asylum seekers, the LGBTQ+ community, faith-based communities and substance abuse agencies.

Covid response

Minister Humphreys added that a “striking feature” of the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland over the past 15 months has been the extent to which gardaí have stepped up community outreach and engagement.

“In all our communities, rural and urban, Garda members have been reaching out to those who are most vulnerable, who are alone, or who are afraid,” she said. “In this way, the longstanding community ethos of An Garda Síochána has been brought even more to the fore – and I think it is true to say that, in many cases, the public have never felt as close to their local Garda.”