Sir, – Your report on the imminent closure of many Garda stations (Front page, September 19th) is very worrying, particularly for those living in rural areas. The present situation is bad enough, with many stations being forced to work office hours, unlike the criminals.
No reasonable person would dispute the need for cutbacks in all State departments, but surely now is the time for a radical review of how the Garda Síochána is deployed.
The greatest waste of garda time has to be the so-called war on drugs. It has no effect whatever on availability: drugs can be purchased in any city, town, village or rural pub. All that’s required is cash or a good credit rating.
The issue of giving all illegal drugs the same status as alcohol and tobacco must be seriously considered. Apart from raising lots of revenue, it would free up the gardaí to tackle the criminality with which most citizens are afflicted: robbery, burglary and criminal yobbery, euphemistically referred to as “anti-social behaviour”. – Yours, etc,