Dublin West Councillor Jack Chambers has condemned the decision to disband the specialist garda unit set up to tackle the surge in burglaries in Dublin.

It’s emerged that the intelligence-led unit has been shut down outright amid health and safety concerns, caused by a lack of resources.

Cllr Chambers has described it as an ‘extremely worrying development’ at a time when burglaries in Dublin are on the increase. 

“We need to hear from the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald right now.  It is completely unacceptable that any garda resources would be taken away from the fight against burglaries at a time when burglaries in Dublin’s suburbs are on the increase,” said Cllr Chambers.

Dublin West General Election candidate, Cllr Jack Chambers, has accused the Government of turning a blind eye to the escalating drugs crisis in West and North Dublin.

It comes after Fianna Fáil revealed figures showing dramatic cuts in the number of gardaí working to prevent and investigate drug crime in the Dublin West and Dublin North garda divisions.  This affects all areas served by the garda stations in Blanchardstown, Finglas, Cabra, Santry, Ballymun, Coolock, Malahide, Raheny, Clontarf, Howth, Skerries and Lusk.

According to Cllr Chambers, the Dublin North division has lost half of its drugs gardaí since 2011, cut from 32 to 16.  Meanwhile 11 gardaí have been pulled from the garda drugs unit in Dublin West, slashed from 35 officers in 2011 to 24 last year.

Crime in Our Community

Public Meeting
Castleknock Hotel Wednesday 11th February 8pm

Guest Speakers: Niall Collins TD,Justice Spokesperson

& Local Gardaí

Crime continues to rise in our community. I am holding a public meeting so that people can have a platform to engage with the Gardaí.
Fianna Fáil is developing its policies on Law & Order and invites you to have an input into this process.
I look forward to seeing you on the night.

I made a speech on Saturday the 22nd of March on the importance of rebuilding Community Policing and supporting Community Based Policing Initiatives. 

Resolution: That this Ard Fheis calls for a refocusing of resources into community based policing initiatives in order to reassure communities affected by crime and antisocial behaviour

People need to feel secure in their homes and their community. There have been numerous incidents of burglaries and anti-social behavior in the locality in recent times. Continuous cut backs to the Garda budget combined with the economic recession has unfortunately fostered an increase in crime.

I have been in contact with the Community Gardaí in Blanchardstown and they have informed me of the following:

·They are engaged in Operation Acer which seeks to specifically target and monitor areas where there have been burglaries in the community through the use of detectives and high visibility Gardaí

· They have asked that any suspicious activity be reported directly to the station and any information will enhance their preventative operation on the ground. Blanchardstown Garda Station can be contacted at 01-666 7000 and I would like to pay tribute to the Community Gardaí who were very receptive to all our concerns. I would like resident associations to encourage and support the setting up of neigbourhood watch schemes. I would be more than willing to do what I can to bring this about. As a community we can work together to proactively help the Gardaí to tackle crime and I am determined to work with all of you to try and put an end to the increasing crime rates in our area.