The senior Garda officer, who is responsible for law enforcement within Dublin, reports that although there has been a decrease in the count of anti-immigration protests this year, the hostility within these events has considerably heightened. This information was presented by Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis, who oversaw 75 of such demonstrations in the Dublin area from the beginning of this year. This figure is slightly higher than the 73 instances policed in an initial six-week portion of the previous year.
In a recent meeting with the joint policing committee of the Dublin City Council, Willis highlighted an alarming surge in violence at ongoing protests. This escalation is particularly noticed in the context of Operation Carrageen, an initiative launched in the previous year to tackle increasing public protests.
During a particular protest that happened last week at the temporary rest centre in South Dublin’s Ballyogan region, 13 individuals were apprehended over a span of two days. Willis affirms that law enforcement will continue to intervene in such situations if required. The Garda is also maintaining a policing presence around Mount Street and the adjacent Grand Canal in Dublin, where those seeking international protection are residing in tents.
As anti-immigration protests are seeing a downturn, 130 demonstrations connected to the Israel-Gaza conflict have occurred in both Dublin city and the county. Willis mentioned that the occurrence of both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups at these gatherings tends to complicate enforcement efforts for the Garda.
On a broader scale, Willis stated that current crime levels in Dublin are lower than those seen pre-pandemic, contradicting popular belief. Except for instances of fraud, all stated areas saw a decrease in crime compared to pre-pandemic figures. Willis observes that crime rates have not exceeded those of 2019, a detail she deemed noteworthy.
In 2021, €26.1 million worth of drugs have been confiscated in the Dublin area as part of police measures aimed at dismantling organised crime networks. Added to this, a further €3.5 million in cash, 20 live firearms, 54 replicas and 102 ammunition rounds were also seized.
Authorities noted a notable rise in operations cracking down on the illegal and antisocial use of motorbikes like scramblers, quads and some e-bikes. Since the beginning of this year, 175 of these types of vehicles were confiscated in Dublin, more than double the total for the whole of last year.
Following updated regulations that came into force recently, the use of scramblers and scooters by people under the age of 16 is now outlawed, and a speed limit of 20km/h has been established. There were 220 accidents involving e-scooters and similar vehicles last year, in which serious injury or death were caused in 54 of these instances.
Chief Superintendent Tony O’Donnell, head of Dublin South Central Division, stated that there were no incidents during the city’s police operations during the recent Europa League Final. He shared these operations had been in preparation for almost two years and marked the most extensive public law enforcement deployment in the country’s history.
Around one-fifth of the total police force, or 3,000 officers, had been on duty in the 24 hours preceding kick-off. Attention was focused on areas such as the airport, city centre, Dublin Castle and Temple Bar, with 1,800 officers, 20 public order units included, remaining on duty as the game started. Mr O’Donnell also noted that the 32,000 fans travelling from other countries made it the largest crowd of foreign spectators for a sports event in Irish history.