Gardaí launch age friendly community engagement initiative

Gardaí in the Cavan Monaghan Division are implementing a community engagement initiative aimed at providing reassurance to vulnerable members of the community and supporting people in hard to reach areas through engagement and high visibility.

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman attended in Cavan Garda Station to help launch the new age friendly scheme in Monaghan & Cavan Garda Division. Under the scheme LED candle lights will be delivered to older people with a fridge magnet for details of a local Garda and their eircode.

At the launch AC Hilman spoke of the need to reassure elderly citizens in light of recent high profile attacks.

The Gardaí used the launch to show that there is a strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, both rural and urban and highlight crime prevention advice for those who may be isolated and elderly across Cavan and Monaghan.

Speaking after the launch Fianna Fáil Deputy, Niamh Smyth, said building stronger and safer communities was a key pillar of the Programme for Government. She said Garda initiatives in place are part of this commitment: “The winter phase of Operation Thor, which was launched on 1 October 2021 runs until 31 March 2022.

“Operation Thor is designed to tackle the increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur in winter months by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity, highlighted through public information campaigns including 'Lock up, Light up'. These initiatives have been successful in dramatically reducing the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property-related crime since its introduction,” she said.

Deputy Smyth concluded: “An Garda Síochána has the resources required to operate effectively. The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of over €2 billion for 2022. This includes provision for the recruitment of 800 new Garda recruits and 400 Garda staff in 2022 - an additional 1,200 personnel.”