So we've an Armed Uniformed police force now?

maglite

http://www.emergencytimes.ie/?p=870


Garda regional support units will be armed on a permanent basis following a review of the regional units, as part of a crackdown on criminal gangs, dissident terrorists groups and the rise in a number of incidents requiring the specialist garda units.

Following a review of the operations of all five Regional Support Units (RSU), Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has ordered that over 120 unformed gardai attached to specialist units nationwide will be permanently armed, a first for the force since its foundation.

The regional units were established in 2008 to act as response squads to deal with certain types of incidents, where those involved were either armed or presented some form of serious threat to themselves or the public. Up to now, the RSU’s, of which there is one attached to each Garda region outside Dublin were only permitted t carry guns on a part-time basis only.

The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) will continue to cover Dublin and focus on ‘high-end’ crime, targeting dissident terrorist groups and organised crime gangs while at the same time, it is intended to reduce the overall number of personnel who are licensed to carry firearms.

An increase in gun violence has partly prompted the decision to turn the units into permanently armed squads.

The move by the Garda Commissioner has been widely welcomed by politicians.

Or is just to say they don't have to keep asking to take the gun out of the safe for every job? - Didn't think that was still the case.

POGAN

maglite wrote: »

Or is just to say they don't have to keep asking to take the gun out of the safe for every job? - Didn't think that was still the case.

yes maglite most units where fully armed for along time we have chat about it in the gallery discussion thread there

Scouser

i was asked the same thing by my friends and family

i was even asked 'so when are you getting your gun?' :rolleyes:

this story is nothing new to me, RSU lads have been on patrol for some time now

I wish there were more quite frankly - that would be newsworthy

Zambia

All I read was a story about the garda getting less firearm carrying members. But the reaction from my mates in Ireland was that more gardai would carry.

It's pretty poor reporting that leaves people thinking the opposite.

aujopimur

120 Garda over 3 shifts plus holidays etc. does'nt seem like a lot on the ground.

kub

aujopimur wrote: »

120 Garda over 3 shifts plus holidays etc. does'nt seem like a lot on the ground.

Does anyone know the total amount of Gardai in ERU, RSU and Special Branch?

Just like to compare the total with that 120 figure.

POGAN

kub wrote: »

Does anyone know the total amount of Gardai in ERU, RSU and Special Branch?

Just like to compare the total with that 120 figure.

wont get them figures kub

kub

POGAN wrote: »

wont get them figures kub

Wild card, a publicity stunt if i ever saw one, that is this whole issue of armed Gardai on patrol. Just wondering so what have the lads driving around in the Volvo estates been doing for the last few years so, if they have not been on armed patrol?

POGAN

kub wrote: »

Wild card, a publicity stunt if i ever saw one, that is this whole issue of armed Gardai on patrol. Just wondering so what have the lads driving around in the Volvo estates been doing for the last few years so, if they have not been on armed patrol?

PR PR all it is, unit expansion would be better annoucment and covering DMR as mention in gallery thread