Survey says 87% satisfied with Garda

Most of the public is satisfied with the service provided by the Garda, a survey commissioned by the force has shown.

86.7% of public satisfied with Gardai

The survey reveals that 86.7 per cent of those questioned were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service provided by the Garda.

Satisfaction is highest in rural areas and lowest in west, south and north central divisions in Dublin. Satisfaction was also higher with older people.

But one in eight or 12.5 per cent of those surveyed said they or another member of their household had been a victim of a crime in 2001. This represents a sizeable increase on the level of crime victimisation. A similar survey for 2000 put the level at 6 per cent.

The most frequent crime reported was domestic burglary which accounted for 30 per cent of victims, criminal damage to one’s vehicle was reported in 20 per cent of cases while physical assault was 13 per cent.

Significantly, physical assault showed the greatest increase compared with previous surveys, 9 per cent in 1999 and 2000.

Cork West division had the lowest crime rate, at a quarter of the national average, while Dublin North Central was more than double the average.

Seventy per cent of respondents said that they feel safe out walking in their neighbourhood after dark, but three in ten feel unsafe, including six per cent who feel very unsafe.

The survey showed feelings of insecurity rose dramatically in Dublin and other cities. Forty six per cent of those surveyed in North Dublin said they felt unsafe walking at night.

Responding to emergencies is the most important task for the Garda, according to respondents, followed by targeting organised crime, investigating crime, enforcing drug laws, and enforcing drink-driving legislation, joyriding and speed laws. Lowest priority is given to supervising licensed premises.

Over two thirds, however, felt the service could be improved by having more gardaí on the street, greater enforcement of traffic laws and longer station opening hours.

Fine Gael today seized upon this to attack the Government saying the there is no chance of garda numbers increasing in the next few years.

Fine Gael justice spokesman, Mr John Deasy, said: "Even if the Government recruits, trains and brings on stream 2000 extra gardaí by 2007, as it has promised, the number of gardaí retiring every means that by 2007 we will have less gardaí than we have now."

The survey was carried out for the Garda by a Belfast-based company, Research and Evaluation Services, between January and April of this year. It involved 10,405 respondents - the largest-ever survey conducted about the Garda - and is due to be published tomorrow.