CURFEW FOR GARDAI.Byline: ELAINE EDWARDS DOZENS of Garda stations will be forced to shut their doors at night under radical new plans to reform the force. The move is certain to cause public and political outcry just a week after it was revealed that crime rates have soared. A special body set up to look at the efficiency of the public service has recommended getting rid of up to 30 Garda districts. It has also advised senior staff in the force to restrict opening hours opening hours open npl → heures fpl d'ouverture opening hours open npl → Öffnungszeiten pl in others. The idea is to free up more officers to police the streets. But Fine Gael Fine Gael (fē`nə gāl), Irish political party. Formed in 1933, it was the successor of the party founded by William Cosgrave that held power from the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922 until ousted by the republican Fianna justice spokesman John Deasy John Deasy (born 1967) is an Irish Fine Gael politician, representing the Waterford constituency as Teachta Dála since the 2002 General Election. John Deasy was born in Abbeyside, Dungarvan, County Waterford. slammed the move yesterday. He said more civilians should be appointed to help free up hard-pressed Gardai. Mr Deasy added: "This would release Gardai from their desks to police the streets. "Last week's shocking crime statistics showed the highest in the history of the state and yet the Gardai are not being given the back-up they require. "It's simply not good enough to recommend the closure of stations without a clear explanation of what that will entail for people living in these communities." Justice Minister Michael McDowell has also promised to bring in new laws to reform the Garda Siochana, including making Commissioner Pat Byrne responsible for overall spending in the force. CAPTION(S): PLEDGE: McDowell |
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