The announcement of Operation Thor back last November was a welcome one. Burglaries and theft-related crime were rampant while there was a very defined sense of vulnerability in rural parts of Ireland. Closure of garda stations, stunted recruitment and the continued reality of austerity have all been features that have hindered action and real change.
Speaking exclusively to Irish Country Living, new Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald gave her take on rural crime, the effect of Operation Thor and the issue of repeat offenders.
“[Operation Thor] was a targeted garda operation, targeting specifically burglaries, urban and rural, and we are very encouraged by the results so far. The CSO figures published show an overall reduction of over 5%, up to December 2015,” she said.
The minister said she wants new bail legislation for repeat offenders to include electronic tagging, as she believes it is an important part of the armoury of initiatives that we need to deal with people who pose a risk to the community.
Rural garda stations
On policing in rural Ireland, the minister says it shouldn’t just be about geography. With six new garda stations reopening on a pilot basis, would their success dictate the reopening of more rural garda stations in the future?
“The garda inspectors report has said that An Garda Siochána should be allocated in areas where the need is shown to exist … We have asked the group that will be reviewing this issue to look at the crime rates, to look at what would be the most effective way to combat the type of crime in the area,” she said.
Read the full interview in this Thursday’s Irish Country Living, where the minister gives her views on arming the gardaí and efficiently policing rural Ireland into the future. You can also listen to our podcast below:
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