New Garda Commissioner wants focus on community policing to maintain trust levels

By Rebecca Black, PA

The new leader of An Garda Síochána has said he wants to grow the focus on community policing.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly spoke of his pride that the force is one of the most trusted in the world and said he wants to maintain that.

“Community policing is obviously a foundation cornerstone to policing in Ireland and is something that is really important to me as Garda Commissioner and is really important to our organisation,” he said at his first press conference following his appointment.

“I know from my experience working previously in places like Tallaght and Blanchardstown how important community policing is, and the engagement with the public and the trust they place in us is the envy of many police forces.

“In fact we are one of the most trusted police services in the world. Our public trust at the moment is at rates that would be enviable for any police force and it is something that we must really work hard to maintain.

“We have done so much work to get that position, but trust obviously is a fragile thing, it can be lost easily so it’s really important that we continue to work on this and community policing is one element of our approach to maintaining this.”

Mr Kelly also pledged a focus on crime in rural Ireland.

“There are people who feel vulnerable and isolated in our rural communities,” he said.

“We have done great work in Operation Thor tackling burglary gangs, these gangs that rove the country causing unspeakable damage but we must increase our work here.

“We have seen aggravated burglary rates are down 26% on this time last year, burglary rates down 11% so for sure we’re going in the right direction on burglary crime, however we have to continue our efforts in this.”