Pop-up Garda stations could be used to deter crime and restore confidence in communities.

That’s according to Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne, who says the link between anti-social behaviour and a lack of policing presence is clear.

A recent survey found that 70% of people in Dublin have witnessed open drug dealing, and 80% have seen alcohol consumption in a public place.

On The Pat Kenny Show, Senator Byrne said pop-up Garda stations could be a solution.

“It would be a temporary Garda station, a unit that isn’t on the main street in our towns, villages, and cities, which Gardaí could use to have a presence and provide information,” she said.

“It’s all about having a greater presence on the street, it increases confidence which is something we all want.

“It has been trialled in Wexford and worked very successfully.”

Public confidence

The County Limerick Senator said the aim is for “people to have confidence” by seeing Gardaí on the street.

“A Garda presence on the street is very welcome and has started to increase, especially here in Limerick,” she said.

“I do believe that having a Garda station where guards can come and go is really important.

“They don’t have to go back to their main station, and people can see them around.”

A Garda lamp sign outside a Cork city Garda Station. Image: Karlis D / Alamy

Senator Byrne said it would also be helpful to businesses.

“I work with small businesses in Limerick, and they are grateful every time they see a Garda,” she said.

“By having a temporary station on the street where Gardaí can come and go at different times, I believe it deters some of the anti-social behaviour that takes place on our streets across the country.

“Some people are also intimidated by having to go to the main Garda station.

“There have been 10 mobile Garda station units already implemented, which travel around different counties.”

Open drug dealing

Senator Byrne criticised how commonplace drug dealing has become on the streets.

“We need to keep fighting back against it,” she said.

“The presence of Gardaí on the street and the roll-out of body cams is beginning to help deter it, and that’s something we need to build on.

"Open drug dealing should not be happening on the streets, and we need to do everything we can to combat it.

“We should also look at bringing in civilians to run some of the [Garda] offices and put more Gardaí back out on the street.”

There were 63,000 prosecutions handed down in the first six months of the year in Dublin.

You can listen back here:

Main image: The exterior of the Garda Station in Bandon, West Cork, Ireland. Image: Andy Gibson/Alamy