RANK and file Gardai are furious over reports that up to 1,500 of them could be losing their jobs.
The Garda Representative Association says it will be asking the Garda Commissioner “if he has sufficient resources to effectively police Ireland, and does he have sufficient funds to pay gardaí?”
It comes amid growing concern in Co Donegal at recent high profile crimes.
In a statement the GRA went on: “Garda numbers will continue to fall until long after recruitment commences – because it takes considerable time to professionally train gardaí.
“Should these budget cuts reduce the number of gardaí further, it is our view that the public safety has already been compromised; and we are gravely concerned that our members have already been endangered.
“Policing is unpredictable, and the number of gardaí must be appropriate to a robust risk assessment based on research data rather than whimsical economic opinion.
“It is our view, that an independent police authority should be established, so that politicians cannot dictate arbitrary reductions in policing resources.”
Reacting to reports of further cuts today, a number of Gardai in Co Donegal complained to Donegal Daily that a further reduction in their numbers would “inevitably lead to more crime.”
One of them told us: “We are already stretched to breaking point and further cuts will only make our job much harder and people will suffer as a result.”
Tags:
