City Gardaí give ‘qualified’ support to student police

Date Published: 09-Sep-2010

By Darragh McDonagh

An Garda Síochána has given qualified support to a student initiative to patrol local estates at night time in a bid to curb antisocial behaviour.

The Students Union at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) is currently hiring personnel to work late-night shifts patrolling housing estates near the college and provide a hotline service for residents who encounter antisocial disturbances.

The union decided to take the action after the number of incidents involving students reached problematic levels during the last academic year, which it described as “one of the worst years ever”.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána said that it supported the student body in its efforts to combat litter and liaise with community gardaí on the issue of antisocial behaviour.

However, he said that policing was the responsibility of the Gardaí and that it was not their understanding that students would be patrolling housing estates.

“It is our understanding that these are not patrols but liaisons who will work with community gardaí. Where antisocial behaviour comes to their attention first, they should contact the Garda and they will respond. That is what we support,” he said. 

The pilot scheme has been funded by GMIT and interviews for the paid positions are already underway. It is anticipated that up to 10 people will be working on the student patrol each night during Fresher’s Week later this month.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune