Chief is happy with resources for roads policing
THERE ARE TEN VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO ROADS POLICING
The Sligo/Leitrim Roads policing Unit is adequately equipped to carry out its duties, Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken told a meeting of the Sligo Joint Policing Committee.
Chief Superintendent Glacken presented updates on actions from the Sligo JPC strategic plan (2017-2022), which mentioned several data updates around the change in number of crimes and change in the resourcing of the Sligo/Leitrim division.
He said: “I have recently seen some public commentary regarding transport available to the Gardai and the distributions of vehicles to our fleet and the use of electric vehicles.
“I would like to say that we have 62 vehicles in the Sligo/ Leitrim Division, which is up from last year when we had 55.
“In the Roads Policing fleet, we currently have 10 vehicles out of which 7 are marked cars, 1 unmarked, 1 4x4 and 1 motorbike.
“I am glad to say that we have increased the number of Electric Vehicles in our fleet, and we have new charging points installed at Grange, Gurteen and Riverstown Garda Stations while we are waiting for 6 more charging points at Sligo Garda Station.
“We already have 3 EVs in the fleet and we are waiting on two new EVs for Gurteen and Riverstown Garda stations.
“So, I would like to say that we find these vehicles very useful, and we are not having any difficulties at all with the Roads Policing Unit.”
Further talking about the workforce availability for the Roads Policing Unit, he responded to a motion from Cllr Thomas Walsh asking ligo County Council to call on Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to provide the necessary resources in terms of Garda numbers.
Chief Supt Glacken said: “We have 12 personnel attached permanently to the Roads Policing Unit with 320 proactive patrols and 79 checkpoints established so far this year.
“It’s a fact that the number of people allocated to Roads Policing Unit across the nation has reduced but I am also aware that there is a national competition to fill the spaces within roads policing.
“We do supplement our roads policing with other personnel here on a rotational basis who are not attached full time with the roads policing, so that we can keep our numbers up.
“In terms of fleet we are adequately resourced as we have 10 mobile units and a new car with telematic capabilities. We will hopefully increase the number of personnel by the end of the year based on the when the national competition will be held.”