Businesses hail return of Garda van to Cork city

A Garda van is stationed in Cork city for the month of June, with Cork Business Association (CBA) saying that the Garda presence will make a huge difference to its members and tourists.

CBA said that the van, which was previously stationed in the city in December, will be “roaming the city and will generally be stationed around the Grand Parade/Patrick Street area”.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: “The community engagement van is utilised by community policing teams across the Southern Region. Nationwide, An Garda Síochána has deployed 10 of these bespoke vehicles. They are equipped with advanced audio-visual technology. Members of the community are encouraged to approach the community policing van in their area for assistance, to raise any concerns, or simply to engage in conversation with gardaí.”

CBA’s safe and clean committee head Kate Culhane told The Echo that they are very pleased to see the van returning.

“It’s a very positive step, having a visible Garda presence acts as a strong deterrent for anti-social behaviour,” she said.

“It strengthens community policing, makes security’s job easier and more effective, and gives businesses and the public reassurance, having a fixed location where people know gardaí will be.”

Following the van’s time on the streets in December, “the feedback was fantastic” from CBA members, she said, adding that having a reliable point of contact was appreciated by the business community but also tourists, who could refer to gardaí for wayfinding.

Ms Culhane said Christmas is the key time they look for an increased Garda presence, adding that it is also welcome during the summer.

“There’s a lot more people enjoying the city centre, what with tourist season, school holidays, good weather. It’s great to see that increase in footfall, and the van providing a protective Garda presence aligns perfectly.”

It comes as Cork City Council said last month that it will engage with gardaí to see if they want to occupy a vacant kiosk on Grand Parade, after a motion on the topic passed unanimously.

Ms Culhane said: “We would be 100% supportive of that idea. Cork can be quite compact, but Anglesea St is a good distance away, so a permanent presence on Grand Parade would have huge value for the city and, on top of that, it would mean one less empty kiosk.”

Fine Gael councillor Damian Boylan, who proposed the motion about the Garda kiosk, told The Echo he is “happy to see the van back”.

“I think again the van, allied with some cameras around the place, would be great, to enforce some of the traffic problems — technology can go a long way in helping to police the city,” he said. “You still can’t beat a garda standing on a street corner, but there are lots of street corners in Cork.

“I welcome the return of the van, and I’m looking forward to an answer from the gardaí on my request for a permanent Garda presence in the city centre.”