25 new gardaí to be deployed to Waterford city as high-visibility plan rolled out

25 new gardaí are set to be deployed to Waterford city as a high-visibility plan is rolled out.

Waterford Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Mary Butler has announced that 25 new gardaí are being deployed to the city, whilst a further two are being deployed to Dungarvan.

Minister Butler also confirmed that high-visibility beats are set to get underway in the city as part of An Garda Síochána’s High Visibility Policing Plan.

This plan has been rolled out in other cities such as Dublin, Cork and Galway and is now being extended to Waterford.

It is a uniformed foot-patrol initiative designed to combat street crime, anti-social behaviour, and public order issues.

Minister Butler said: “I want to commend Chief Super Intendant Anthony Pettit and his team for the extensive body of work they’ve undertaken in recent months to secure the extension of the high-visibility beats initiative to Waterford and the additional Gardaí announced today.”

“It was confirmed in recent months that An Garda Síochána planned to extend High Visibility beats to Waterford.

“These high visibility foot patrols are assigned to key areas in a specific city which are chosen based on feedback from the community and local businesses, as well as An Garda Síochána’s own crime location data.”

She commended local stakeholders for the role they have played in ensuring the initiative is rolled out in Waterford.

“Residents, businesspeople, community groups and organisations such as the Local Community Safety Partnership in Waterford City and County Council have all played a key role in recent months in informing Garda management of the need for this initiative to Waterford.”

Minister Butler also took the opportunity to acknowledge the arson attack which claimed the lives of four people in Waterford city earlier this week.

“I also want to thank my colleague, Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, not just for continuously engaging on local policing matters in Waterford, but for his unwavering support in the wake of the tragic incident which occurred in the heart of the city this week.

“I’m conscious that so many of us remain deeply shaken by these events. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, their friends, the wider community in Birchwood and the young children critically ill in hospital.

“I want to sincerely thank An Garda Síochána in Waterford for the upmost professionalism and diligence they’ve shown in the wake of such tragedy.”

She concluded by saying that such acts of violence have no place in a civilised society.