More gardaí to liaise with gay community
Ten new garda liaison officers have been appointed to look after the gay community in Dublin, it was announced today.
The additional two sergeants and eight gardai brings the total of garda liaison staff to the gay, lesbian and transgender community in the city centre to 13.
One sergeant and five gardaí will be appointed in Dublin North Central Division while Dublin South Central will have one new sergeant and two gardai.
Three of the appointments will be female, a spokesman said.
The new officers will be based at Pearse Street, Store Street, Kevin Street, Fitzgibbon Street and the Bridewell garda stations.
The appointment of the new liaison gardaí was welcomed by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network’s chief executive Keith O’Malley.
“There was quite a rise in homophobic crime around the centre of Dublin in the middle of the year and there were a number of responses from the lesbian and gay community and meetings were organised with the gardaí.
“They undertook to do a number of things, and that’s what is coming through now,” he said.
Mr O’Malley said the gardaí had liaison officers in place for around six years and it was a relationship which worked very well.
“Essentially what they seek to do is bridge any communication gap between lesbian and gay people and An Garda Siochana as a force.
“They aim to make the service provided more accessible and appropriate to lesbians and gays,” he said.
The liaison officers are on hand if issues, such as a complaint or a request for help, arise from the gay community.
In addition, they can provide guidance to other gardai on how to proceed in investigating a homophobic crime.
Over Christmas, gardaí will also be distributing leaflets and information to gay pubs and clubs, as part of their ‘Be Proud – Be Safe’ campaign launched in the summer.
It provides advice on how to avoid being a victim of crime and information on what to do in the event of being robbed or assaulted.
