GARDA duty rosters have been overlapped to help combat the incidence of night-time crime in Limerick city centre. Details of a range of crime prevention measures were outlined by Henry Street gardaí at a meeting with city centre retailers to encourage greater communication between businesses and gardaí. Among other measures discussed was the provision of a Garda kiosk in the city centre or that gardaí could occupy a vacant retail premises to maintain a visible presence in the main retail district.
A Garda spokesperson told the Limerick Post: “Everyone is anxious to ensure the city centre is an environment that people can enter morning, noon and night without fear of being put upon.”
The meeting was facilitated by Limerick Local Heroes. The attendance was addressed by Garda Superintendents Dave Sheahan and Frank O’Brien and Sergeants Brian Broderick and Kevin Balfe of the Community Gardaí.
Nigel Dugdale, project manager at Limerick Local Heroes, commented: “It was a very positive meeting. There was a great turnout and we hope it will be the start of a consultation process to improve communications between the gardaí and retailers.”
“One issue that arose was the perception that the streets of Limerick are unsafe. Statistically, the level of crime in Limerick City has actually reduced although there are still issues that retailers face on a daily basis. This perception of Limerick City is definitely something that needs to be addressed.”
Referring to the provision of a city centre kiosk, Mr Dugdale said that the gardaí “didn’t knock the suggestion as it was something that was done before on O’Connell Street in Dublin,”
“They weren’t saying that the gardaí should move into the city centre completely. it would just be for them to have a presence there and give people a sense of safety and a place where they could drop in and voice any issues they have.”
The Garda spokesperson noted that other matters which were brought to attention included begging in the city centre, and charity fundraisers “collecting money using harrassment.”
Mr Dugdale remarked: “The guards actually don’t have the power to move these fundraisers on as they may be granted licences in district courts outside our jurisdiction. It’s something that may need to be addressed at a higher level.”
A further meeting will be held after the Christmas period.
