We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
IN FEBRUARY 2013, Stepaside Garda Station in south county Dublin closed, amid uproar from locals who were concerned there would be fewer gardaí in the area and a rise in crime. It is one of 113 stations closed since 2011.
Antoinette Cunningham, vice-president of the Association of Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), has said since the station’s closure, there has been a significant increase in crime in the area, which has a population of 20,000.
“We were against the closure of Stepaside in the firstplace and we believe that’s one such example where it could be reopened,” she told reporters at the association’s annual conference in Westport, county Mayo.
The garda station was a hot topic during the recent general election, with Shane Ross plastering the area with posters calling for it to be re-opened. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin also paid the former station a visit, saying at the time he believed there needed to be a strong garda presence on the ground.
Burglaries in the division have increased since the closure, jumping from 419 incidents in the last full quarter it was open in 2012 to 595 between October and December 2015.
Small communities
Cunningham told reporters that middle-ranking gardaí have numerous concerns about the significant number of garda station closures over the last few years.
“Our first concern, of course, would be that some of these garda stations no longer exist because the government have sold them off. They haven’t made that much money on them.”
What they’ve done is a disservice to the community because they’ve destroyed the community relationships that we thrive on, that we rely on in small communities, and even where stations have been downsized you find now that garda resources are being pulled from rural centres into big urban towns and there are no police left in small communities, and that’s concerning for us.
Industrial action
A big topic of discussion at this year’s AGSI conference is the restoration of pay for middle-ranking gardaí. In a survey conducted by the association, 93% of sergeants and inspectors called on the organisation to take work-to-rule action in respect of their pay restoration claims.
AGSI members have seen their take-home pay reduced by almost 25% as a result pay cuts and increased taxes since 2008.
The results of the survey also reveal huge support for a series of protest actions:
During his address to delegates, general secretary John Jacob said the nature of industrial action will be agreed by delegates at the conference over the next two days.
“The AGSI is seen as a soft touch by government because of our restrictions to strike under the Garda Síochána Act, however, there are actions that we can take that will hopefully have our concerns taken seriously,” he said.
“As front line managers and supervisors, we at no stage will impact the public in our protest actions. However, we are calling on the public to support us as we strive for a better policing service for all citizens of this state.”
We’ll be reporting from the AGSI annual delegate conference in Westport over the next two days, so keep an eye out and follow @michellehtweet for updates throughout the day.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Reopen the nick…dont tell shatter.
In fairness, Stepaside is under 3 miles from the nearest Garda station at present, there are people who live 30 miles from the nearest Garda station, re-open some of the rural ones first.
No ‘first’ about it when your safety and security is an issue, we’re all equals in that sense, reopen them all now and undo the the Zionist mad shatter’s damage to our societal infrastructure.
There are over 25,000 living in Stepaside area, rural Ireland doesn’t need stations any closer than 30km for 6 people
FG’s answer will be cardboard cutouts of Gardaí in the windows.
Like something from ‘Home Alone’
I spend a lot of time in Stepaside. I live in Duleek Co.Meath.
I can’t recall the last time I read a news article about recent crime in Stepaside. . . . Duleek however, well just google it.
Our station needs to be opened ASAP
I live just outside Stepaside. My house was broken into 2 weeks ago. Now you’ve read about one. Burglaries are out of control in Stepaside/Leopardstown over the last 18 months.
Sorry to hear that. But burglaries aren’t news worthy. They are constant in Duleek, but the crimes I’m referring to are viscous aggravated burglaries and serious arson attacks.
The centra directly across the road from closed Garda station was victim of an armed robbery last week.
If that’s Duleek you are referring to, yes it was, as was the bookies beside it, both with staff and customers inside.
Last year almost every business in our little village was hit, including one where an elderly couple were injured during a hostage situation.
http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/news/terrifying-armed-robbery-of-city-shop-caught-on-cctv-shows-raiders-armed-with-knives-storming-shop-34612719.html this happened just last week
He must be handsome to travel that far
That he is ; )
It is very important that pay scales are restored so that the National Police service can carry out their duties in a proper manner
Why? What significance has more pay on a person’s ability to do their job correctly? Surely the money would be better spent on more police and equipment. The AGSI and GRA keeping banging on about more resources needed etc but everyone can see through the smoke screen. It’s all about money. I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with that. Everyone should have a fair wage but let’s not pretend that their whinging is about anything other than more money.
And restore the AGSI members former pay rates.
How are they payed compared to Sargents & Inspectors in the PSNI? How do the pensions compare?
*paid
There are other communities with higher crime rates.
I lived up in Stepaside in the Belarmine estate for 6 years and it was brilliant when it first opened with great neighbours. Then came the influx of social into apartments and a designated building beside parkview- suddenly cars start to be broken into in car parks, bikes went missing, apartments got broke into. Gardai were been called out in the middle of the night to apartments to deal with anti social behaviour. I personally don’t think it’s any coincide. I sold last year and happily moved away after falling victim and would advise anybody not to buy up there.
The article doesn’t make reference to actual crime figures so is there supporting evidence of this claim that crime has risen in the area? Is this above and beyond what’s been seen in other areas of Dublin? What type of crime are you referring to? Is it something that would be prevented from re-opening the station?
I originally come from the area and still have family living there. I can say with certainty that crime is on the rise in the area. A large number of houses and shops have been robbed since the closing of the station. I would be very interested to see the actual stats though.
If Gardai were out and about more, having useless garda stations open would not matter. Anyhow gardai no longer live in areas where they work and have long since lost contact with the people.
Not in south county Dublin! Cutbacks are for the culchies
Does your community have 20k population? How short sighted can you be to not relise that this is a test case.get this through and you can open more garda station nationwide.the south county dublin means very little, mixed social population.
A whole 20k!! Wow lol. Yes my community has more than 20k and also had its police station shut down.
“However, we are calling on the public to support us as we strive for a better policing service for all citizens of this state.”
Good luck with that, considering how they have treated the general public when it comes to the implementation of water meter installations and anti austerity marches.
I wonder, can we put up barriers telling them where they can march and where they can`t, and can we have the batons this time?
Bulls**t. The guards have been exemplary in the face of a concerted effort to goad them into lashing out against “peaceful protest” tactics, which were anything but. They have my support.
exemplary? – Pull your head out of wherever you have been keeping it, have a look at the heavy handed approach, not to mention the amount of pictures of Gardaí with their batons drawn in the city center (around the Dáil on numerous occasions – last time I checked, it was still lawful to protest in this country, but you would never guess it. I know your twitter handle says you are a Well meaning eejit, but you`re still an eejit none the less.
It’s lawful to protest but if people are getting arrested and then being successfully sent forward for trial (by the courts and DPP, not the guards, by the way) it’s because they are legitimately suspected of doing something illegal. Get over it.
Ooh you know who I am, I’m so scared…….
Keep drinking the anti-cop koolaid, anonymous weirdo. Go look to Ferguson for actual wrong heavy handed cop tactics.
What do they need a Garda station for? It’s about visibility and being out and about.
They could have them work from home.
Doesn’t stop them giving speeding tickets in Stepaside on a summers day!!
have your say