STATEMENT BY GRA PRESIDENT JOHN PARKER

17.07.12

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In the light of the senior garda appointments announced today by the Minister for Justice, we are calling for the urgent recruitment of rank and file gardai who are on the front line of policing in Ireland. Policing is an investment, not an expense; if numbers aren't available on the streets to prevent crime then we will pay a heavy price in the future.

The Force is being systematically reduced down to 13,000, yet just five years ago all political parties agreed the need for 16,000 officers to effectively police our community.

An Garda Siochana needs recruitment to begin immediately to replenish and revitalise a Force that has already been reduced beyond its elastic limit and to replace those further gardai retiring over the next two years.

Ireland is the only country in the EU with no police officers in training. This is clearly not sustainable.

ENDS

“GRA president John Parker said policing is an investment, not an expense.... “ Journal.ie 18.07.12

“Call for immediate and urgent recruitment... “ Irish Times 18.07.12