Gardaí fear extended opening hours will worsen public order problems
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Garda HQ has warned the Department of Justice that more public order problems will be the “inevitable consequence” of proposed laws to extend opening hours.
According to department officials, Garda management said there were insufficient Garda resources to deal with the existing 2.30am closing times - and that expanding alcohol availability will exacerbate demands “on an already overwhelmed force”.
The hard-hitting comments are contained in meetings between Garda managers and Department officials, released under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), the staff body for frontline members, told the that the thin blue line is already at “breaking point” and that a “substantial increase” in numbers, up to 2,000 more, would be required to police the extended hours.
Under Government plans in the Sale of Alcohol Bill 2022 and the shorter Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2024, opening hours of nightclubs will increase until 6am, with pubs allowed to extend trading to 2.30am.
A special report in the Irish Examiner last week highlighted the scale of safety concerns and drink-fuelled violence in Cork city at night, with a recent meeting of Cork City Council hearing claims that parts of the city were "no-go areas".
The Dublin night-time economy strategy, also reported on last week, said a survey conducted for it in late 2023 found that 47% of respondents (50% of females) felt unsafe in Dublin at night, up from 21% in 2020.
The FoI documents show that in a meeting with senior department officials on September 21, An Garda Síochána (AGS) “expressed concern” at plans by Justice Minister Helen McEntee to extend opening hours.
Officials noted: “They [AGS] said that this will present a serious issue from a resource and rostering perspective. AGS said that there are insufficient resources to deal with the existing situation of 2.30am closing times as it is, and said this will exacerbate the demands on an already overwhelmed force.
“They stated that more public order and associated issues will be an inevitable consequence of this proposed change.”
Gardaí told officials that staggering closing times will “merely prolong” rather than reduce the need for garda resources and result in their “not being available to undertake other policing duties at those times”.
The officers also highlighted enforcement difficulties “due to the culture of persons consuming a mix of alcohol and drugs, particularly cocaine”.
The FoI documents, obtained by Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), show gardaí expressed similar concerns in December 2022.
GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said they recognised the need to reform licensing laws to match other European cities, but shared management concerns: "The current numbers within garda rank can barely keep up with the needs within the licensing hours currently enjoyed but the truth is that the thin blue line is at breaking point.
"These proposed reforms would essentially require a substantial increase in the members allocated to the 24/7 policing model with additional resources for the public order units and roads policing units to police these longer opening hours and the inevitable increase in night time activity.”
He added: “It is my belief that we would be unable to police these proposed changes until we reach at least 16,000 members and we are currently almost 2,000 short of that number."
Sheila Gilheany, CEO of AAI, said: “The concerns raised by An Garda Síochána are borne out by the evidence from multiple other jurisdictions that when late night alcohol licensing hours are increased there are consequent increases in crime and public safety issues. [In] Northern Ireland, the extension there in October 2021 has led to a 17% increase in alcohol-related crime.
“What is astonishing is that in the face of these facts and the ongoing pressures on AGS that there has been such a drive from Minister McEntee to push ahead with the proposals. At the very least the incoming government must commit to a health impact assessment.”
The latest figures show the garda strength stood at 14,125 at the end of September, including 11,267 at garda rank. This compares to 13,960 and 11,135 respectively in January.
In a statement, the Department of Justice said the two bills aimed to develop a modern night-time economy: "The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while providing support to those involved in our night-time economy. An Garda Síochána were fully consulted as this general scheme was developed."
It said gardaí would get stronger powers, including emergency closure orders.