‘Not every garda station needs a cell’ - Commissioner

Libraries, council buildings and even some other State-owned buildings could house on duty gardaí as the force examines “alternatives” to traditional stations in communities while members are on patrol.

“Not every garda station needs cells,” Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told The Anglo-Celt at the weekend, attending the launch of a newly-opened base of operations for members of the regional Armed Support Unit (ASU) at Cavan Town barracks.

He made the comments following a direct request for an update in relation to two current projects in the county - plans for a new garda district headquarters in Bailieborough, and the promised reopening of the station in Bawnboy village.

In respect of Bailieborough, the national garda chief said he had “signed off” on the final requirements of the OPW up to four weeks ago, a project for which tenders were received back in March this year.

The deadline on redeveloping the former National Irish Bank building, with a new four-storey extension built to the rear, has been pushed back on a number of occasions, with latest estimates works could be completed by early 2023.

A spokesperson from the Garda Press Office has since confirmed in respect of Bailieborough: “A full design team is in place. Planning has been completed and approved. Tenders have been returned and the OPW advise it is in the final stage of the evaluation process.”

The detail is contained in the Commissioner’s September Monthly Report to the Policing Authority.

However, concerning Bawnboy station, Comm Harris was much less certain. Bawnboy station was one of six recommended for reopening as part of a pilot programme nationally in November 2017, having been shut initially in 2013 as part of cost-cutting measures introduced by then Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

Last April the OPW submitted the necessary Part 9 planning application to Cavan County Council regarding the development.

At the time it was said the necessary work to bring the station back into use could cost up to €250,000 after “technical surveys” identified the need to remove asbestos from one portion of the building.

Considering each project, Comm Harris told the Celt that he has now asked for “business cases” to be made in respect of each of the stations to be reopened - including Stepaside and Rush, Co Dublin; Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow; Donard, Co Wicklow; and Ballinspittle, Co Cork.

“I have to examine the business case to see whether that station will reopen or not,” said Comm Harris of the Bawnboy station site.

He elaborated further, saying that An Garda Síochána is prepared to look at the use of “alternatives” where possible in stationing members of force while on duty in local areas.

The potential demise of the infamous hatch reflects, in some way, the suggestion made by the National Crime Forum more than two decades ago that gardaí should consider setting up small shop-front stations in shopping centres.

The new hyper-localised units could be part-run by civilians, resulting in garda members spending more time in the communities they police.

“Stations in themselves are an expensive capital bill and resource then to run,” Comm Harris told the Celt.

“We could be situated with others, maybe in a library, or some other government or council type building, and we would patrol from that. Not every garda station needs cells.”

He went on to add: “What we really need is a front desk and counter and then some basic facilities for the guards attached to that. So that’s an alternative as opposed to a four-walled garda station.”

Both the OPW and An Garda Síochána have been asked for comment in relation to the Bailieborough and Bawnboy station projects.