Garda revises its policing of outdoor socialising in Dublin following criticisms

Gardaí in Dublin are to change their approach to the policing of public socialising after widespread criticism of the way the large crowds that gathered in Dublin city centre recently were handled.

The force had “reflected” on its policing of public socialising in recent weeks , a senior officer said, and would change the way it sought to deal with such situations.

Instead of relying on a “heavy presence” of public order officers to police people gathering outdoors in the city centre, the force is now sending large numbers of frontline officers to patrol the streets.

Footage of gardaí in riot gear clearing revellers from parts of the city centre and closing-off streets last month attracted widespread criticism.

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Business owners also expressed concern that gardaí were not doing enough to tackle anti-social behaviour, which peaked in Dublin in late May and early last month when pubs and restaurants were allowed to serve takeaway but not host patrons outside their premises.

At a meeting of the Dublin City Policing Committee on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner for Dublin Anne Marie Cagney said the "reopening of society is genuinely one of my policing priorities and it's a policing priority for each superintendent".

She said gardaí had initially policed the reopening “by having a heavy presence of public order personnel visible on the ground”.

‘Huge presence’

Ms Cagney said the Garda has now reflected on that approach “because of significant feedback” from human rights groups, the business community and residential communities.

She said the current approach was to ensure “a high-visibility presence of frontline responders on the ground” and that she goes out herself at weekends to ensure there are enough gardaí on the beat.

“We are seeing a huge presence of guards coming into the city centre.”

At the weekends, gardaí are brought into the city from every division in the wider Dublin region as well as from the eastern region. Ms Cagney said she receives criticism from chiefs who have to send their resources into the city every weekend while also policing their own areas.

Ms Cagney is also involved in the investigation into the alleged improper cancellation of thousands of 999 calls by gardaí, particularly those from domestic violence victims. She said garda call-takers were being retrained on domestic abuse calls in the wake of the controversy.

She told the meeting she was unhappy with the response of some call-takers in domestic violence incidents.

The meeting heard that while call-takers were well trained on matters of policy, there was concern they may not have understood the impact that “using the wrong language” can have when dealing with a domestic violence victim.

Understanding

“In examining some of the material as part of this, I was not fully satisfied as to the extent of understanding of persons who take calls from victims and the requirement to insure that that first contact is a full understanding of how you can make such a difference to a victim’s life,” she said.

Ms Cagney said she has already rolled out “very, very extensive training programmes” in this area.

“What I was finding is they are very good on policy, they are very good at doing their job, but did they understand fully how you could get it so wrong by saying the wrong words or using the wrong language?” she said.

“We needed to provide that additional support to them, so we have had two very, very extensive training courses which are currently ongoing and are being delivered out to all of the regional control rooms.”