Flanagan criticised over 40pc drop in community gardaí

THE number of community gardaí has plummeted by almost 40pc, newly released figures have revealed.

According to the statistics, which were released to Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall, there were 1,182 community officers in 2010, while now there are only 716.

Ms Shortall has claimed Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has “totally abdicated” responsibility for protecting communities.

The fall in numbers was sharpest in the Garda’s Northern Region, where there was a 74pc drop, from 78 to 20. The Eastern Region saw a 55pc drop from 101 to 46.

And in the Dublin Metropolitan Region there was a 39pc drop – in line with the overall national average – from 508 to 311.

Releasing the information, Mr Flanagan said it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of resources and that the minister has “no direct role”.

He insisted that community policing is “at the heart of An Garda Síochána”. He insisted that all Garda members have a role to play in community policing.

He said community garda are those tasked exclusively with building relationships in neighbourhoods and civil society, including giving talks at schools and to local groups.

Ms Shortall said community gardaí play an “absolutely vital role in discovering and preventing crimes” and help communities – particularly the elderly – feel safe.

She said there’s a growing problem of anti-social behaviour involving minors in Dublin. A Department of Justice statement said the minister does not interfere politically in policing matters.