Train-ing day!
There was visible garda presence on two busy Cork train routes yesterday, 8 October, as part of an initiative to prevent anti-social behaviour on board public transport.
The national day of engagement was conducted nationwide as part of Operation Twin Tracks by An Garda Síochána in partnership with Iarnród Éireann and Transdev Ireland.
The two Cork routes involved in the operation were Charleville to Rathmore (Kerry), and Cork city to Midleton.
The objectives of the initiative are to ensure public safety by addressing anti-social behaviour; to protect life and property; to engage with the public and provide crime prevention advice; to support Irish Rail and Transdev personnel in tackling these issues; to vindicate the human rights of each individual; to prevent crime and to investigate crime.
Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries, Garda National Community Engagement, said: “An Garda Síochána, as part of Operation Twin Tracks, encourages and supports this ongoing opportunity to engage positively with the users of public transport, Iarnród Éireann, Transdev Ireland (LUAS) and the NTA. This engagement day affords An Garda Síochána the opportunity to maintain a visible presence on board these services while encouraging security and safety on board while preventing and detecting anti-social behaviour.”
The two primary elements to the plan are community engagement and rail safety, which will be achieved by high visibility public engagement and delivery of crime prevention advice. High visibility patrolling will concentrate on rail and light rail transport within the DMR region and nationwide on intercity routes.
Personal safety and crime prevention delivery as part of the initiative will involve public engagement by all personnel involved and community engagement stands based at intercity routes and Dublin city stations.
Local community policing members, supported by crime prevention officers, will operate these community engagement stands at Connolly and Heuston stations and at various hubs across the regions.