Six additional gardai and one sergeant approved for Athlone

Amid increasing concerns about the level of policing in Athlone under the new Garda Operating Model for the Meath/Westmeath Garda Division, it has been confirmed that six extra gardai and one sergeant have been assigned to Athlone Garda Station.

Supt Bláithín Moran, who has responsibility for Community Engagement under the new policing model, told a meeting of Westmeath Joint Policing Committee (JPC) last week that the additional gardai are due to commence work in the local station “this week.”

Despite the confirmation of new gardai for Athlone, there was trenchant criticism at the JPC meeting of the new policing model and the changes it has wrought on the town, with Cllr John Dolan telling how he had to resort to ringing 999 when he “couldn't even get an answer” when he made a recent phone call to the local garda station.

“How hard is it to pick up the phone?” he asked “or how hard is it to send two guards up Church Street morning and evening to engage with local businesses and talk to members of the public, you ask anyone in this town and they will tell you that gardai out on the beat is just not happening.”

Cllr Dolan also asked if garda management had ever asked any of the local gardai in Athlone how the new policing model is working. “I have asked them and I know a lot of them are not happy with it,” he claimed.

Chief Supt John Dollard, who is based in Navan and has overall responsibility for the policing of the Meath-Westmeath Garda Division, gave a detailed presentation to the meeting of the new policing model and said it would result in “more frontline Gardai, a stronger focus on community policing, and a wide range of policing services delivered locally” and pointed out that it reflects “best international practice”.

As well as being strongly refuted by Cllr John Dolan, the new policing model was also strongly criticised by Cllrs Frankie Keena and Paul Hogan, with the latter stating that he found it “very disconcerting” that such a large town as Athlone “effectively does not have a day to day policing management structure.” The meeting heard that Supt Michelle Baker, who was in charge of day to day policing matters in Athlone, has been appointed to head up the the Performance Assurance Functional Area under the new policing model, which encompasses performance and standards; discipline and complaints (including GSOC) and criminal justice.

Cllr Hogan was also very critical of the lack of response from Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, to an invitation from Athlone Moate Municipal District members to meet with them to discuss the Garda operational changes which was issued late last year, and said members of the district were considering “taking a day off work and hand-delivering the invitation to the Garda Commissioner” in an effort to elicit a response from him.

Cllr Frankie Keena said had concerns about the new policing model “from day one” and asked the Chief Superintendent if he thought it was “a good idea to leave Athlone out” when it came to the appointment of Superintendents. He also asked Chief Supt Dollard if he was “comfortable with the level of policing in Athlone” and if he felt it was “adequate.” Cllr Keena expressed his deep disappointment with the operational changes and said he would like to “put it on the record.”

Referring to Athlone as a “very significant town” Chief Supt Dollard strongly refuted suggestions that Athlone was under-resourced when it came to policing, and said policing numbers had increased since the new model came into operation last November. “I am absolutely convinced that community policing is the way forward as higher visibility contributes to a greater sense of security and this will be expanded and enhanced in the coming months,” he said.