Gardaí left to chase dealers on bikes

December 2005

GARDAÍ IN Arklow are being left to chase drug dealers and hardened criminals on pedal bikes, because their undercover squad car is clapped out.

In the week that Arklow became the first town outside the major cities to launch a mountain bike unit, it has emerged that the unmarked squad car has to be taken out of service, because it is deemed to be dangerous and unsafe.

The seven year old car, which has been grounded by the PSV inspector under health and safety regulations after clocking up over 220,000 miles, was ideal for tracking down drug dealers and other criminals, as it gave the Gardaí the element of surprise for their covert drug raids.

Anti-drugs Councillor Peter Dempsey, who is furious that there is no sign of Garda authorities moving to replace the unmarked squad car in the near future, said it was giving carte blanche to the drug dealers to step up their activities in Arklow, which already has a serious drug problem as it is. Superintendent John Roche has written to Garda chiefs seeking a replacement for the clapped out unmarked squad car and is still awaiting a response.

‘ The unmarked car was taken off the road four weeks ago. It is vital in combating serious crime, including drugs enforcement, an any reduction in transport capability is a serious inhibiting factor.

‘A modern police force needs all the modern bikes and vehicles it can to tackle crime,’ he said.