Gardaí intervene to save many lives
BREACHES Over 300 Covid fines issued
One of the most senior police officers in this region has expressed serious concerns about the impact of lockdowns and Covid restrictions over the past 16 months on people’s mental health.
Superintendent Padraic Jones made the comments at a virtual meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) on Friday afternoon.He was addressing members on police work carried out during the pandemic and enforcing Covid regulations but remarked that the figures don’t reflect the work carried out by gardaí who intervene in many situations.
“It is something we have encountered quite a lot in the Cavan District and that is the impact that Covid has had on people’s mental health,” Supt Jones said.
“Unfortunately, we have had to engage in an increased number of incidents where we have had to carry out an intervention to save people’s lives... People who have had gone to the brink and it was incumbent upon our people to take them back from it,” he continued.
Supt Jones said that members of the Community Engagement Unit are “interacting hugely with our communities in this regard, to provide assistance”.
Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken informed the members that a total of 319 Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) had issued to date in respect of Covid regulation breaches in County Cavan and 20 files have been sent to the DPP for direction.
He too praised the role of the community engagement units in policing Covid regulations;.
Two permanent Community Policing Engagement Units have been established in County Cavan, with four personnel attached to the Cavan unit and three to Bailieboro.
“Each of the units are being supervised by a sergeant and Inspector Lionel Mullally in Bailieboro has overall responsibility for the Policing Unit. Their focus will be on vulnerable and marginalised people and working in an educational and advice role with youths,” revealed Chief Supt Glackin
“We have done property marking events and we have been giving presentations in schools in relation to internet safety, cyber bullying and that work will continue.
“I hope that you will see more and more activity from our community policing units,” he added.
“I would ask the community support us in our efforts in community policing, in terms of making our communities a safer place to live, work, to do business in and to visit,” concluded the Chief Super.