Sixteen Garda trainees and 12 Garda reserves have been assigned to the north west to support the policing of Covid-19 restrictions.
An Garda Síochána is working to maximise front-line capacity during the current Level Five restrictions. A total of 71 trainees and 69 garda reserves were attested yesterday to be stationed across the country.
The new officers began their training in May 2020 through online learning, and training in the Garda College and in stations. The trainees will now take on operational responsibilities.
Garda reserves have undergone training to prepare them to contribute to front-line policing including public compliance with health guidelines and regulations.
An Garda Síochána is also redeploying uniform personnel from administrative roles to front-line operational duties.
Up to 49 officers in Donegal are currently off duty due to Covid-19, either through positive infections or close contact isolation.
Welcoming the new members, Commissioner Drew Harris said, “A very important aspect of the work of An Garda Síochána throughout the pandemic has been day-to-day engagement with the most vulnerable. Often Gardaí have been people’s only interaction or contact, their only support. The newly attested Garda members and reserves will help support this work and that no one in need will feel as though they are dealing with this alone.
“Crime has continued during the pandemic, and the dedication and professionalism of Gardaí has allowed us to maintain our operational pace over the past ten months. At all times, Gardaí across the country have continued to focus on preventing and detecting criminality.
“Garda members regularly face dangerous, uncertain situations in order to assist and protect the public. It takes true mettle to come forward at a critical period in the country’s fight against this virus and be prepared to give it all to protecting the public from the frontline.”
