The Garda Representative Association has criticised a new anti-burglary strategy announced today, saying it could be anmed "Operation should not have closed rural stations".
"Operation Thor" will target six known gangs and around 200 offenders believed to be behind a spate of robberies around the country. €5m in funding will go towards extra patrol hours and high powered vehicles for the armed Regional Response Unit.
However, President of the GRA Dermot O'Brien claims the measures won't make up for past cutbacks
"I'm not being flippant with this remark, but Operation Thor could be renamed Operation we-should-not-have-closed-rural-stations.
"They're now throwing money at AGS to go and patrol these areas, which were being patrolled at the time when these stations were open," he said.
The Garda Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald today launched Operation Thor - a national anti-crime strategy.
It is estimated that the funding will allow an extra 100,000 patrol hours by gardaí in local communities.
High-powered vehicles are being made available to the armed Regional Response Unit for the first time.
Six criminal gangs and more than 200 habitual burglars have been identified by gardaí for the operation.
Among those identified by gardaí are six mobile gangs - based mainly in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Sligo - who are suspected of carrying out nightly robberies using high-powered cars on the motorway network.
Commissioner O'Sullivan says the operation would go a long way in helping frightened communities.
