A report by the Dublin City Task Force, set up last May in an effort to revitalise the city centre, says that the capital falls short of the European average of police to residents.
In an effort to combat this it recommends an extra 1,000 gardaí being deployed on the city’s streets over the next three years.
Recent figures however show that garda numbers are dropping to what the GRA warned are “crisis” levels.
Mark Ferris, a member of the GRA’s central executive committee, welcomed the task force recommendation but warned about the numbers available to police on the frontline.
He said the apparent scarcity in gardaí patrolling the streets is in part down to frontline members being tied up in “bureaucratic roles” within the criminal justice system.
“Guards are required to maintain ownership of their cases throughout the legal process, including accompanying prisoners, executing warrants, and completing reams of paperwork in the prosecution of cases,” Mr Ferris said.
“It all falls on the individual Garda. There is an onerous level of oversight by supervisors demanding immediate replies by email relating to even the most mundane facet of an investigation.
“This system inevitably diverts members away from the streets, reducing visibility and sapping public confidence.”
Mr Ferris said that this was acknowledged in a report by the Commissioner on the Future of Policing but that recommendations it made won’t be implemented “because it would mean other State bodies having to step up”.
“The current status quo forces a trade-off between member responsibilities and visible policing, often at the expense of the latter.
“Until comprehensive reforms addressing both legal and organisational aspects are enacted, it’s not viable that Dublin will see a continuous street-level police presence.”
The Dublin City Task Force report makes 10 recommendations as part of efforts to transform the city in the wake of the November riots and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Writing in the Herald on Monday, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “Together they have drafted this new vision for Dublin to rejuvenate our capital city to make it a safer and a more attractive place for people to work, live and visit.
“It also recommends expanding private security on public transport. They need new powers. I fully agree. People need to see gardaí and security to feel safe.
“Other recommendations include upgrading CCTV to provide for cameras at identified problematic areas, including lane ways and public spaces.
“This will help people feel safe across the city.”
