The Garda operation is focused on reassuring the public that Dublin city centre is a “positive safe environment”.
Over 100 Gardaí are now patrolling Dublin city centre each weekend evening as part of a new policing operation.
Operation Citizen commenced in the capital two weeks ago and is focused on reassuring the public that Dublin city centre is “a positive safe environment”.
Gardaí say this is “notwithstanding the wide range of complex social and professional dynamics which are to be found in Dublin city, the same as any other large urban environment”.
The aim of the operation is to clamp down on “anti-social behaviour, public order and quality of life issues, assaults and high volume crimes”, which Gardaí say will be achieved by increased visible policing.
Operation Citizen includes:
- In excess of 100 Gardaí patrolling Dublin city centre each weekend evening
- In excess of 20 Gardaí on foot and mountain bike patrols, supported by 12 mobile patrols, on a daily basis
- A number of Gardaí now full time assigned to specifically patrol the River Liffey Boardwalk, the river’s quays and its adjoining streets every day from 4pm to 4am
- 30 additional Gardaí deployed on foot patrols in city centre on Friday, Saturday, Sunday evenings
- A Garda National Public Order Unit of 25 personnel on mobile patrol of the city centre every Friday and Saturday evening
During the first full week of Operation Citizen, which included the October Bank Holiday Monday and Halloween, there were in excess of 50 arrests and 65 charges preferred before the courts.
Meanwhile, Gardaí say provisional crime statistics up to week ending 31 October, 2021 continue to demonstrate reductions across the vast majority of crime types compared to the same year to date period in 2020.
This is despite far greater public restrictions in place in 2020 and the current far higher public usage of public spaces.
“An Garda Síochána is committed to ensuring that the public realm and amenity that Dublin City Centre is, is a safe place to live, visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy,” it said in a statement.
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