This week marked the relaunch of Athlone’s community policing unit, a development which will ensure more visibility of local gardai on the town’s thoroughfares and allow for continuous integration with numerous representative organisations within the district.
Confirming the relaunch to the Athlone Advertiser, Superintendent Michelle Baker, stated that it was a priority development, noting that the work of the community policing unit had been detrimentally impacted by the pandemic onset.
“There was a community policing unit in situ prior to the onset of Covid-19, but unfortunately such a resource had to be reprioritised as the pandemic made impact. The demand is now there within the community for the return of this particular unit and Monday of this week was the first day of duty for those gardai involved,” Superintendent Baker stated.
Under the guidance of Sergeant Damien Connaughton, who will be assisted by four garda personnel, the community policing unit will engage with numerous representative organisations within Athlone and its immediate environs.
“Our aim is to reengage with numerous community groups and voluntary organisations and assist with queries or advice they may be seeking. At this time of year, with the onset of the winter season, certain members of the community may feel vulnerable as the dark evenings set in, so those with concerns can be certain of support from our unit,” Superintendent Baker remarked.
The community policing unit will further integrate with the local school environment hosting talks on important issues such as drugs and alcohol misuse and online safety.
“There is a large student body within Athlone and the community policing unit will be readily available to conduct talks and offer relevant advice to those attending TUS or in second level education,” Superintendent Baker added.
A remit of the community policing unit is to have an ongoing presence on the town’s thoroughfares with each unit member assigned a particular sector of the town in which they will be the dedicated garda for that location.
“Should community groups wish to get in touch with our community policing unit they may call the garda station and ask to speak with Sergeant Connaughton,” Superintendent Baker concluded.
O’Rourke Welcomes Unit Relaunch
Welcoming the development, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, noted that he has been liaising with local garda representatives for the return of the community policing unit.
“For the past number of years, I have been calling for a proper, fit for purpose Community Policing Unit to be established in Athlone. Ten years ago, we had a very effective unit operating in Athlone. Gardai were often seen on bicycles and on foot, they were linking in with schools, with social and sports clubs and with residents’ associations across the town. It worked extremely well, and it meant that Garda were visible, they could see what was going on and they had a real feel for the issues around the town.
“An effective and well-structured community policing unit can identify issues or potential issues as they are emerging. This early intervention strategy is crucial to breaking down local crime before it happens, particularly crime that is generally committed by young people in local areas. Over the past ten years I made a strong case for this model to be established in Athlone but to no avail.
“Over that time, I made the case to four Superindents, two Chief Superindents and to Commissioner Drew Harris when he visited Athlone. I am delighted that my calls have finally been heard and I want to pay tribute to the one and only community garda we have had for the past two years in Athlone, Sergeant Damien Connaughton - on his own, he did an impossible job very well. Credit is also due to our new Superintendent, Michelle Baker, who has certainly been proactive with the establishment of this new community policing unit for Athlone.
“As we all know, Athlone needs more gardai. We are critically low in terms of garda personnel. I will continue my campaign with the higher echelons of An Garda Siochana to ensure Athlone receives its fair share of personnel and recruits going forward,” Cllr O’Rourke asserted.
