Gardaí will carry out random spot checks on buses in Dublin this weekend, in order to curb antisocial behaviour and help “people to feel safe”.
Since 2019, reports of anti-social behaviour on Dublin Bus have more than doubled.
Last year, there were 1,054 incidents of anti-social and Dublin Bus hope support from An Garda Síochána will help drive those numbers down.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland said they had agreed a "targetted" strategy for the so-called ‘Days of Action’.
“They will be deployed in areas and on routes where we think that they can be most effective to deter antisocial behaviour - but also, to intervene if necessary,” he said.
“It’s important to say that this is a data driven approach; there will be frontline feedback, of course.
“But we’re looking at statistics and incidents where they happened and trying to target those areas.
“Be that at a certain time, on a certain route and a certain area.”
A Dublin Bus travels through the city centre on a bright day. Image: reallifephotos / Alamy Stock PhotoMr Boland declined to say which bus routes Gardaí would target; however, he added their focus would be on “assuring the public and our own drivers as well.”
“We’re trying to get people walking, cycling, taking the bus, taking the train - whatever that is,” he said.
“We need people to feel safe there, to feel that it’s a reliable service and that they’re going to be safe on that.
“That’s why we’re getting An Garda Síochána out.”
Although 1,054 incidents of anti-social were reported in 2024, Mr Boland said it is important to remember that some 159 million journeys were made on Dublin Bus.
“Any one incident is too much,” he said.
“We’ll say that straight out; however, we carried 159 million passengers last year.
“We can carry half a million people on a busy day.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously expressed support for a dedicated transport police.
Main image: Two members of An Garda Síochána on duty in Dublin city centre. Picture by: culliganphoto / Alamy Stock Photo
