Policing model has negatively impacted Birr and Roscrea Garda Stations

BIRR Garda Station has been put through a deliberate system of downgrading in recent years, a policy which ties in with the general policy of centralisation in other facets of Irish life.

A number of years ago the Birr Station lost its dedicated resident Superintendent following the introduction of the Garda Operating Model restructuring. Under this new Operating Model, policing operations, serious crime investigations, and management were consolidated centrally in Portlaoise and Tullamore.

Birr now serves as a “key Community Engagement station” rather than a standalone district headquarters. Day-to-day community policing and safety are managed through the Offaly Community Engagement Headquarters in Tullamore.

A number of years ago the powers that be decided to shift the District leadership and there was therefore no need for a dedicated, locally-based Superintendent in Birr.

This new model has been introduced across Ireland and is based on the UK model of policing. For Birr it means that the duties previously carried out by the Superintendents are being carried out by the Inspector and Sergeants.

Birr had a Superintendent in situ for many years but the last Superintendent, Colin Furlong, left the station five years ago, in 2021, and hasn't been replaced since. The model was also imposed on Roscrea Garda Station in recent years, which meant that Roscrea lost its dedicated local Superintendent and the station now operates under the East Clare-Tipperary North Community Engagement headquartered in Nenagh. The Roscrea station’s frontline resources have dropped significantly. It operates with a reduced force of 11 members, which includes three sergeants, seven front-line Gardaí, and one member on loan from Nenagh.

The Roscrea station is no longer open on weekends and operates with reduced opening hours, usually from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday through Friday. The reduction in manpower and loss of local command sparked concerns among public representatives, with local TDs repeatedly calling on the government and Garda Commissioner to increase resources and improve response capabilities.

In the Birr station the number of Gardaí is now too low to sufficiently serve a large and busy District. When Gardaí in Birr are moved elsewhere they are not being replaced. Critics of the Operating Model point out that it means that Gardaí have been moved out of the Roscrea and Birr Stations into specialised units elsewhere. The critics say the result of this is there is less frontline policing, less boots on the ground.

In 2020 An Garda Síochána announced the phased introduction of the Garda Operating Model in each of its 19 Divisions, and the allocation of Superintendents to each of those Divisions. An official Garda statement at the time pointed out that the new Model would see more front-line Gardaí, a stronger focus on community policing, and a wide range of policing services delivered locally. It said the Model was being introduced as part of A Policing Service for the Future, which was the implementation plan based on the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Critics say that in reality community policing in towns such as Birr and Roscrea has suffered because of the Model.