Councillors divided over private security plan for Dublin

Plans to examine the introduction of private security in Dublin city centre have divided city councillors.

The Dublin City Development Company (DCDC), the body responsible for the area's regeneration, said it has been liaising with gardaí, the Department of Justice and businesses about the introduction of safety wardens, who would not have powers of arrest.

While some councillors have said they are open to exploring the concept, others have expressed concerns about the proposals.

In a statement, DCDC, which was established to implement the recommendations of the Government's Dublin City Taskforce, said it was tasked with developing agreements with business representative groups and gardaí for a new safety warden scheme.

"Safety on our streets should be our number one priority. As part of recognising this deliverable, the Project Management Unit has been conducting research and looking to other jurisdictions to inform best practice on options to improve safety on our streets, implement change, and provide additional support to An Garda Síochána, residents and the business community.

"Dublin City Council has been liaising with An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and the business community to develop concepts. We are also reviewing structures adopted by Irish Rail and Luas to understand the implementation of security measures on public transport.

"Similar to safety warden schemes in operation in other jurisdictions, appointed safety wardens would not have additional statutory powers to arrest, demand identification, require a person to leave a public street, search individuals, or issue fines or enforce local authority by-laws."

It is understood that private security for Dublin city centre would be funded by a combination of state and business contributions.

Business group, Dublin Town, said it is happy to play a role in the implementation of a pilot scheme because research it commissioned last May found that, while perceptions of the city centre are improving, safety remains a key challenge, particularly on the Northside.

"Dublin Town has previously stated while businesses are consistently calling for additional Garda resources, initiatives that may improve safety must be trialled. Dublin Town believes security similar to that already in operation on the Luas and on Irish Rail, in addition to more gardaí, will be a good thing for those who live, work and visit the city centre."

The group, which represents 2,500 city centre businesses, said that similar schemes have been successfully implemented by local authorities and police in cities throughout the UK, with the input and co-operation of similar business groups.

"Dublin Town will do all that it can to improve safety and perceptions of safety in the city centre, and believes this pilot will give people a sense of enhanced safety while supporting the important statutory role the Gardaí play in keeping our city safe," it said.

Mixed reaction from city councillors

While some councillors have said they are open to exploring the idea, others have expressed concerns about the measures.

Independent councillor for Dublin Central Cieran Perry said while he would prefer to see an increased Garda presence in the city, if that is not possible, he would reluctantly support a pilot community warden scheme but that any proposals need to come before city councillors.

"The fact that we need to consider this move exposes the ongoing failure of policing in our city. As a councillor who has consistently highlighted the lack of visible policing in the city centre and the resulting open drug dealing, criminality and anti-social behaviour, I welcome any reasonable proposal to tackle the safety issues, perceived or otherwise, in the city centre.

"To be clear, the correct solution to the ongoing open drug dealing and criminality in the city centre is a dramatic increase in a visible Garda presence. Councillors in the area, including myself, have called for increased visibility for years to no avail.

"It would appear to be a policy decision at senior Garda management level and Government to limit the amount of gardaí patrolling the city streets.

"If Government and Garda management have decided not to deploy sufficient numbers of Gardaí in the city centre or are not in a position to do so, I will reluctantly support a pilot community warden scheme to assist with community safety issues."

However, Green Party Group leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr Janet Horner, said she had concerns about the proposals.

"In an era of ICE and the scenes in France, it feels pretty important that we don't give powers of overreach to private security," she said.

"I have two major concerns here. Firstly, the process. Why was this proposal not brought to the Council or the Community Safety Partnership, which are the bodies responsible for safety issues?

"Any proposal along these lines needs full transparency and scrutiny. Secondly, the proposal itself. It seems to be a way of throwing money at enriching a private security firm while doing nothing to address the systemic issues in policing the city or supporting vulnerable and marginalised communities."

A report on the proposals is due to be brought before Dublin City Council next month.