LAST week’s meeting between Gardaí and the Chief Executive of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce has ensured a garda presence on the streets and shopping areas of Letterkenny, subject to resources being available.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week Chamber CEO Toni Forrester described the meeting with Gardaí as positive but she said the issue of policing comes back to a problem of a lack of resources.
“Superintendent Goretti Sheridan assured us they are committed to having a Garda on Main Street or in and around the town. This will be reviewed in September. It is subject to having members available,” she said.
“We did discuss that on a bigger picture the department and Commissioner Harris need to be looking at how town centres and other areas are policed.
“Recruitment in the force is not up to speed and there are just not enough Gardaí available. We will be writing to Commissioner Harris looking for his views on how we resource an area like this which is on the border and which brings other challenges.”
She added that the meeting discussed the size of the current North West Garda Division and how it might be better to have Donegal a single division. They agreed that where there is visible policing there is improvement in compliance.
“That was the thrust of our discussions. The Gardaí are aware of the need but the problem with resources is a bigger problem than just local.
“Supt Sheridan will review it with us in September.
“At our normal Chamber Council meeting on Tuesday night it was agreed we will write to the Department and Commissioner setting out our concerns,” she concluded.
The meeting between the two groups came on foot of an increase in violence in the town in recent weeks.
Members of the Chamber expressed concern after the widespread circulation of a video showing an alleged altercation involving knives in Letterkenny’s Courtyard Centre last Saturday week, leading to calls for greater garda presence on the streets of the town.
Anecdotal evidence also emerged of men carrying baseball bats on the street in recent weeks, heightening fears of growing violent crime.
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