Model in which Mayo gardaí operate 'completely un-policeable'

The general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has described the structure in which Mayo gardaí operate as 'completely un-policeable.'

Ronan Clogher made his remarks at a meeting of Oireachtas Committee on Justice.

He stated that a garda division the size of Mayo Roscommon and Longford is 'impossible to manage'.

"Such a geographical area is completely un-policeable. It is impossible to manage a division of that size.

"It stretches from Blacksod, past Belmullet to this side of Granard.

"We see resources being dragged away from the smaller towns and centralised to provide cover in the main towns.

"They provide a satellite service - but this is breaking the link with the community.

"People do not know their local gardaí and gardaí do not know the local people. Traditionally, that is what An Garda Síochána always thrived on."

Mr. Clogher said there are other issues that the existing operating model is bringing up locally and nationally.

He explained: "It is creating silos within An Garda Síochána.

"We are seeing the break up of An Garda Síochána as a force into separate entities.

"The plainclothes division is going one way and the uniform division is going the other way.

"For a small police force like An Garda Síochána, that is very risky, particularly in the countryside and rural areas where plainclothes gardaí need to support those in uniform and vice versa.

"We have also seen the removal of superintendents from garda districts. Historically, this served the State well for the last 100 years.

"I note the Commissioner's comments to this committee last week where he put forward that one of the benefits of the operating model is that superintendents were freed up from districts and had more of a community engagement role. We would not accept that.

"Our membership would like to see superintendents back in charge of districts. I know from talking to my colleagues in the superintendent's association that they would like to be back in charge of districts as well. It has not worked. Nobody knows who is in charge."

The Connaught Telegraph has highlighted the fact on a number of occasions that despite Castlebar being the HQ of the Mayo, Roscommon, Longford Division, the chief superintendent is not based in the town.

It is also a source of frustration to local elected representatives that the new community policing forums have not met to date,.