Falling Garda numbers has made managing crisis situations unsustainable, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) President has warned.
This warning comes in the wake of an attack on tents housing asylum seekers on Dublin's Sandwith Street, including arson.
Gardaí have said they are on high-alert for potential incidents – including attempts to block roads and prevent asylum seekers entering a hotel in Co Clare.
GRA President Brendan O’Connor told Newstalk Breakfast Gardaí are “duty-bound to respond to incidents as they arise” - but this is becoming more and more difficult.
“Policing is in crisis. We don’t have the numbers and these new initiatives simply aren’t delivering,” he said.
“From places like Inch to Dublin, falling Garda numbers are really impacting on the service available to the public.”
Mr O’Connor said they are “asking less people to do more [work]”, which is having an “unbelievable strain on the service”.
Anti-migrant protests
According to the GRA president, this strain will affect the ability of Gardaí to react to escalating violence at protests, including anti-migrant protests.
“If the units being deployed are young, inexperienced Gardaí, a lot of them not even trained to fight... no public order training... trying to manage crisis situations as they emerge is simply not sustainable,” Mr O’Connor said.
Mr O’Connor urged the Government to “take control” of the situation and address the shortage issues.
Having conducted a poll on recruitment and interest in the service, Mr O’Connor said more people need to be convinced to join An Garda Síochána.
“Only 27% of people we polled would recommend a career in Garda Síochána to close family or friends,” he said.
No guarantees
Dublin Bay South TD Jim O’Callaghan said Gardaí “do an extremely good job” - but “they cannot guarantee a crime will not occur” at future anti-migrant protests.
“I'm confident the Gardaí will be able to perform their duties but that’s not withstanding the fact I would like to see more Gardaí on the streets,” he said.
Deputy O’Callaghan described those who set fire to asylum seekers’ tents as “thugs”.
“What happened in Dublin over the weekend wasn't protests,” he said. “It was a criminal act against people who were in tents [and] very vulnerable.”
He said the protests were not representative of most of the south inner-city, who are “very welcoming” of migrants.
“It was horrific, it was reprehensible, but it also wasn’t representative,” he said.
Deputy O’Callaghan also said we need to put the housing situation into “perspective” as he claimed 520 of 84,000 people seeking international protection are homeless.
“There has to be a recognition that we can’t just conjure beds and accommodation overnight and the numbers are very significant that’s come in,” he said.
