Sir, – I refer to the Garda Commissioner’s comments that assaults in August are fewer than those last August (“Interview: ‘We’re living in a far more dangerous and fractious world’”, News, August 24th).
It’s an indictment of the policing standards that 2,353 reported assaults to date this month are regarded as a positive.
These numbers are also being given from an organisation that inflated breathalyser numbers by nearly 1.5 million over seven years, and hung up on thousands of 999 calls to cut official call numbers. – Yours, etc,
SIMON BALL,
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Dublin 1.
Sir, – Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is the latest to comment on the serious assaults that have occurred in Dublin city centre recently. Like the Minister of Justice previously, the Garda Commissioner was quick to point out that the number of assaults in public places in Dublin so far this year is lower than last year and also lower than in 2019.
While this is undoubtedly true, this measure is in fact only one small part of how the safety of the city centre is evaluated by its citizens.
Many people are reluctant to socialise in the city centre in the evenings or at night because of a general feeling of being unsafe. There are continuous reports of open drug-dealing, antisocial behaviour and a low-level feeling of threat towards those socialising in the evenings and at night.
These contributing factors are not generally captured in the Garda crime statistics, but nevertheless are a significant reason why there is a public perception of being unsafe in the city. While it is entirely appropriate that Garda resources are directed towards the investigation and prosecution of all assaults, the promised more visible Garda presence will play a key role in reducing the level of antisocial behaviour and the undercurrent of violence that currently exists.
The perception of how safe the streets of the capital are, as well as how safe they actually are, both feed into the likelihood of people socialising in the city in the future. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN KELLEHER,
Ballinteer,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Only after the Grafton Street incident was the suggestion of armed gardaí, dog units and checkpoints mooted.
What will be left by way of escalation if there is any untoward behaviour in the leafy glades of Dublin 4. Diplomacy? – Yours, etc,
GERALDINE BIRD,
Doolin,
Co Clare.
A chara, – As a Dubliner, I am getting annoyed at the negative picture portrayed in the media of my home city, especially Dublin 1, where I live.
I am not naive enough to wallow in “Dublin in the Rare Old Times” nostalgia but everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of criticising the capital city.
I am proud of its heritage in political and culture matters and the great contribution it has made to the history of this country. – Yours, etc,
DEREK HENRY CARR,
Dublin 1.
Sir, – Kevin O’Sullivan’s recent article was timely and accurately sums up the post-Covid state of Dublin city centre. On reading his article, I am concerned that Dublin City Council seems to accept and promote the fact that outdoor dining is a de facto part of the post-Covid landscape. While some areas are suitable for outdoor dining, most are not. Wicklow Street comes to mind in this regard. The street, which was once a lovely retail street to stroll along, has had its ambience completely changed by outdoor drinking, with barrels strewn across pavements to facilitate same.
Dublin City Council seems to overlook the fact that outdoor dining is now predominantly outdoor drinking in Dublin and as such ignores the correlation between antisocial behaviour, violent crime, and alcohol.
Where will be when the new proposed licensing laws are introduced? A recent study in Norway found that extended licensing hours led to a 16 per cent increase in violent crime and a similar one in Amsterdam found 34 per cent more alcohol related injuries with each additional one-hour extension.
We can only hope that the Public Health (Alcohol) Act is reinforced this November and that the Government thinks long and hard about the unintended consequences of outdoor drinking and the proposed new licensing hours. – Yours, etc,
DM WHELAN,
Rathgar,
Dublin 6.