Former Detective Demands Higher Gardai Numbers For Community Policing

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 16:42

A 38% decrease has been recorded in recruitment to the road safety unit last year compared to 2009.

There should be around 16,000 Gardaí to allow for effective community policing.

Pat Marry, former detective and private investigator living in Mullingar, believes that if the force wants to remain a strong, increasing Garda numbers is vital.

It comes after figures from the Parc Road Safety Group show a 38% decrease in garda traffic corps in 2025 compared to 2009.

The retired Garda is pointing to an operation he was a part of, tacking organised crime in Dundalk.

He says policing by community consent is the way forward:

The former Garda Commissioner promised 150 new traffic officers over the last two years - but only delivered 79.

56 members were appointed in 2025, with four of those going to Portlaoise and two to Tullamore in the Laois/Offaly division, with just one going to Delvin.

The unit had 645 members at the end of last year - down from a peak of 1,200 in 2009.

Junior Transport Minister Sean Canney, says the government is considering all options to reduce road deaths: