Should Airport Police & Harbour Police be merged with AGS to form a Transport Police

Silop08

Just wondering should the likes of Airport Police & Harbour Police forces be merged with An Garda Síochána to form a Garda Transport Corp which would have responsibility for trains, buses, planes, harbours etc.

I am in no way saying that either the Harbour Police or Airport Police don't do a good job I am just wondering would it beneficial to have a dedicated Transport Police similar to the UK BTP or are all concerned happy with the status quo?

Delancey

I'm unsure if there would be much benefit in merging ' forces ' to create a Transport Police , that said I do think Dublin badly needs a transport police service . Travelling on the LUAS I have witnessed some nasty incidents of racial abuse - if you were caught doing that on the London Tube you'd be run in pretty fast. Busaras in Store Street is a total shlthole and seems overrun with junkies , beggars and other assorted sub-humans .
From what I can see the Rail Security Force at the main Dublin stations seem to be making a difference.
But I definitely would love to see a dedicated Transport Police.

Bosco boy

why not allow allocate members of the Garda reserve to to also serve as reserve airport police and harbour police (wearing their uniforms) and as a result beef those units up and call it a transport police, seems the only way we can aford policing from here on is to do it is on the cheap.

DCTF

delancey42 wrote: »

I'm unsure if there would be much benefit in merging ' forces ' to create a Transport Police , that said I do think Dublin badly needs a transport police service . Travelling on the LUAS I have witnessed some nasty incidents of racial abuse - if you were caught doing that on the London Tube you'd be run in pretty fast. Busaras in Store Street is a total shlthole and seems overrun with junkies , beggars and other assorted sub-humans .
From what I can see the Rail Security Force at the main Dublin stations seem to be making a difference.
But I definitely would love to see a dedicated Transport Police.

Seen the Rail Seurity Guards at a LUAS stop in Tallaght issuing a ticket for someone who had urinated on the platform. Was demanding name and address for the issue of the ticket to the offender.

sdanseo

Definately a great idea once adequate consideration is given to those members of those services already serving - i.e. that they be guarenteed admission to AGS pending full completion of training at their current pay (granted they're paid by the DAA/Port Co so bill them and recoup). It's only fair, we're talking max. 200 people nationwide. They also already do the jbs and would be a massive asset for training. That's especially operationally - in Dublin Airport etc where the complex is a massive maze.

There's enough friction between DAP at least and the Gardaí that this sould be done. It'd be a massive coup for customs etc too, think how much easier it would be to share information - all goes on PULSE or whatever and done with it. Anything the AP can currently detain for needs to be addressed by them anyway. As regards using reserves, a fantastic ide there! They could and should also be patrolling the LUAS, I'd say pair them up as PCSOs in the UK do. Theyre better equipped by miles and well able to keep order, better than those rail security yobs do - I've heard them happily and publicly chatting away about how they'd love to bate the head off someone, in the middle of a carriage not to mention giving anyone under 25 ugly looks - pathetic escuses for guards although they do make a bit of a difference allright.

source

What people on this thread seem to be forgetting, is that the gr can only operate while accompanied by a full member. This is in the legislation governing their creation.

While the idea as a whole does have merit, however you're talking about letting members of the airport and port police blanket entry to templemore, I personally know three apo's who are apo's because they failled to make the grade for AGS. If they failled to get in there was a reason for it, opening the gates to them to merge forces while for the vast majority would be fine, would in my opinion be a mistake.

Silop08

ok if the airport & port police were kept seperate but under the umberella of AGS and designated as Transport Police would that have sole responsibility for policing the ports, airports, bus & train depots. If these officers wanted to move to mainstream policing they could make a lateral move into AGS taking into acccount their service to date and record etc

bravestar

sdonn wrote: »

Definately a great idea once adequate consideration is given to those members of those services already serving - i.e. that they be guarenteed admission to AGS pending full completion of training at their current pay (granted they're paid by the DAA/Port Co so bill them and recoup). It's only fair, we're talking max. 200 people nationwide. They also already do the jbs and would be a massive asset for training. That's especially operationally - in Dublin Airport etc where the complex is a massive maze.

There's enough friction between DAP at least and the Gardaí that this sould be done. It'd be a massive coup for customs etc too, think how much easier it would be to share information - all goes on PULSE or whatever and done with it. Anything the AP can currently detain for needs to be addressed by them anyway. As regards using reserves, a fantastic ide there! They could and should also be patrolling the LUAS, I'd say pair them up as PCSOs in the UK do. Theyre better equipped by miles and well able to keep order, better than those rail security yobs do - I've heard them happily and publicly chatting away about how they'd love to bate the head off someone, in the middle of a carriage not to mention giving anyone under 25 ugly looks - pathetic escuses for guards although they do make a bit of a difference allright.

Why should they get their current level of pay if joining AGS. I didn't. I had kids to feed and a mortgage to pay. They shoud get exactly what we got.

As for a guaranteed admission "... happily talking publicly about bating the head off someone... giving anyone under 25 ugly looks"... despite what some people think AGS is a professional force respected the world over, I dont want second rate thugs wearing my uniform.

mcguiver

??? What Port Police??
No such thing here in DMR, disbanded some time ago, work now outsourced to security firm.

As for the rail security...complete with vests, utility belts and radios.... waste of time from my experience. They seem to lack basic training on how to deal with the public, and then when they have escalated a situation AGS get called.... E.g. 9 security personnel to deal with one non violent drunken student who had urinated on a track... who then called for assistance from Gardai, because drunk kid wasnt apologising!!

donvito99

mcguiver wrote: »

??? What Port Police??
No such thing here in DMR, disbanded some time ago, work now outsourced to security firm.

Theres Harbour Police is Dún Laoghaire.

mcguiver

The lads in Dublin Port are gone a few years.

And If I recall the Airport lads are part of the fire brigade crew.... I stand to be corrected, it's been years since I had any dealings with them.

Jesus, can you imagine working in an airport, it would be stupid questions multiplied by a million!!!

sdanseo

mcguiver wrote: »

The lads in Dublin Port are gone a few years.

And If I recall the Airport lads are part of the fire brigade crew.... I stand to be corrected, it's been years since I had any dealings with them.

Jesus, can you imagine working in an airport, it would be stupid questions multiplied by a million!!!

And corrected you shall be. :P

Dublin AP/Fire were separated about two years ago and now operate independently although there is still some element of union there.

The Harbour Police also still exist at Dublin Port, saw them myself only a few months back checking vehicles.

As for working in an airport and stupid questions - suffice is to say I was once asked by a woman in an american accent how to get out of the baggage hall - she was standing on the letter "E" of the word "exit", which was printed in three-foot high letters on the floor. The place is a nut house.

Alpha Papa

I Clicked no for a few reasons..

Airport Police provide the state with Aviation Policing/Law Enforcement in the three state aerodromes and deal within the Ministers lands deal with practically the same crimes/offences generally as the Gardai with exception to immigration (But they do operate with GNIB in matters call for assitance etc.. they assist customs with joint operations but not in enforcing general customs issues) PULSE is'nt a issue either for the APS both services co-operate together that all anyone who doesn't already knows this needs to know.

Frictions between the AGS and APS is only a childish rumour and simply isnt true.. There professionals after all.

There is'nt enough Gardai to cover the airport as it stand never mind from Santry so why would the airport look to change that the DAA and the minister already have invested large amounts of time, capitol and interest in developing the the APS in their role with legislation and modernising the APS into a small but capable Police Service and have in the past year the APS have partnered and aligned their training and equipment with the British Transport Police.

Times are looking brighter then ever for the APS so its unlikely a AGS Transport Police would emerge for the airport. Maybe on buses or trams or trains more likely but would any gardai like stuck on them all day?

G_R

I think a Transport Corps in AGSwould be a good idea.

All existing Airport and Dublin Port Police members should be given first refusal on applying to the Gardai to enter the transport Corps. If they get accepted, well and good, if not, then they should be let go once the new body is created and tbh if they dont get accepted then they probably shouldnt have been there in the first place. I think that given the whole terrorism situation (I know Ireland isnt a high threat but you never know what these extremeists minds) and the corp patrolling in High risk areas most of the time (except on the Luas etc), the whole corps should be operated similar to the RSU's, so they would patrol unarmed and be able to change to "Armed Mode".

Silop08

Alpha Papa wrote: »

I Clicked no for a few reasons..

Airport Police provide the state with Aviation Policing/Law Enforcement in the three state aerodromes and deal within the Ministers lands deal with practically the same crimes/offences generally as the Gardai with exception to immigration (But they do operate with GNIB in matters call for assitance etc.. they assist customs with joint operations but not in enforcing general customs issues) PULSE is'nt a issue either for the APS both services co-operate together that all anyone who doesn't already knows this needs to know.

Frictions between the AGS and APS is only a childish rumour and simply isnt true.. There professionals after all.

There is'nt enough Gardai to cover the airport as it stand never mind from Santry so why would the airport look to change that the DAA and the minister already have invested large amounts of time, capitol and interest in developing the the APS in their role with legislation and modernising the APS into a small but capable Police Service and have in the past year the APS have partnered and aligned their training and equipment with the British Transport Police.

Times are looking brighter then ever for the APS so its unlikely a AGS Transport Police would emerge for the airport. Maybe on buses or trams or trains more likely but would any gardai like stuck on them all day?

Thank you for clearing up a few issues for me. I do believe that APS in all airports are becoming more resourced and very well managed. You are correct you hear all the urban myths about the "joeys" and I am sure AGS members have a good working relationship with APS. I would have a further suggestion that perhaps AGS & APS be housed in the one complex. The current AGS station is in my eyes not the most practical or visually pleasing.