Louth people can apply to become a Garda Reserve

People of various nationalities, skill sets, ages and backgrounds in Louth are being urged to join the Garda Reserve as part of a fresh recruitment drive launched last week.

The Gardai re appealing for new applicants to their popular Reserve programme as the organisation seeks to diversify its ranks further underits Modernisation and Renewal Programme.

The application process to fill new Reserve places opened last Thursday. It will run for three weeks. People from 18 to 60 can apply. The aim is to recruit 300 reserves in 2017.

Garda Reservists are voluntary members of the police service. The programme affords members of the public an opportunity to develop hands-on policing experience in their locality.

Tasks involve dealing with public order incidents, high-visibility patrolling, traffic management, attending major events, carrying out administrative duties, and providing general support to full-time Garda members.

The current strength of the Garda Reserve is 663 and 182 are women, 481 are men. The average age of a female Reserve is 36, compared to 40 for male Reserves. There are 20 different nationalities represented including people from Poland, Nigeria, Italy, China, Iran and Lithuania and backgrounds vary from fitness instructors to firemen to bank clerks.

Anyone interested in applying to the Garda Reserves should visit publicjobs.ie. The closing date is April 13.