Gardaí increase high visibility patrols in Cavan town

An Garda Síochána has begun a Christmas and New Year operation to increase visible policing presence in Cavan Town.

They intend the move to combat retail crime in Cavan town.

Beginning in Friday, December 12, the operation will take in what An Garda Síochána describe as the 'Cavan Community Engagement Functional Area'.

This operation includes an increase in foot patrols in locations that were selected following feedback from the local community and businesses, as well as crime location data.

Additional uniformed personnel will be deployed on foot patrol across the town centre between peak business hours, 10am and 6pm daily, for the duration of the operation. In addition, there will be increased foot patrols during the peak weekend socialising hours between 6pm and 4am.

Superintendent John Callanan, Cavan Community Engagement, said: "The increased high visibility policing resources in Cavan town will adopt a robust approach to policing any offences detected, including public order offences, drug-related activity or anti-social behaviour and will provide continuous reassurance to members of the public.

"In order to combat retail crime during the festive period, Garda personnel will also be assigned to specific retail crime detection operation. This activity will be supported by wider detective and plain clothes resources from Co. Cavan and will be guided by crime data analysis. Those personnel will also adopt a robust approach to dealing with criminal offences and will pursue a pro-arrest policy for recidivist offenders, including strong bail objections where appropriate.”

Gardaí assigned to the operation will be supported by wider resources from the Cavan Roads Policing Unit and Detective Units. Cavan Community Policing Gardaí will also deploy the Garda Community Engagement van to locations around Cavan town to support public engagement and offer crime prevention advice to members of the public, residents and the business community.

This operation represents the initial phase of a High Visibility Policing and Retail Crime Reduction Plan for County Cavan. It will run throughout the Christmas and New Year Period to January 9.

An Garda Siochana say upon completion of the operation, the learnings from this initial phase will inform the roll-out of a wider operation to all communities in County Cavan.