Private businesses should be allowed to hire individual off-duty gardaí for security work in retail outlets and inside shopping centres, a leading business organisation has said.
The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) said it was common in the United States for off-duty police to provide security services for private businesses.
The group has called on the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, "to allow businesses to pay for increased Garda presence where and when they feel it is needed".
In the US, the police are available for hire to businesses when they are off-duty, it pointed out.
"These police are recruited through police stations which ensure that all arrangements remain legitimate. Police, working out of hours in uniform, provide a significant deterrent to anti-social behaviour and criminal behaviour. Privately-hired security personnel do not have the same credibility or impact," said the organisation.
It cited the example of the American state of Indiana, where special deputy sheriffs have been granted certain police powers in the performance of their duties for private employers.
The idea is included in its submission to the Garda Síochána Policing Plan 2006.
The organisation said private companies were already allowed to ask the Garda to provide security services at concerts and sporting events. It said there was no reason why this could not be extended.
"CCI would like to see this service extended to businesses that are willing to pay the full premium. So, for example, if the traders on Dublin's Henry Street want extra gardaí patrolling the street in the run-up to Christmas, this service can be provided and will be paid for by the traders," said its statement.
CCI claimed businesses were perceived as an "easy target" for petty and violent criminals who were aware of the constraints private security staff worked under. It said among these were the legal complications involved when approaching a "perceived thief".
It said there was no reason why privately funded Garda patrols in shopping centres could not be considered. It also said co-operation between private security staff and the Garda might be an option.
"The gardaí would also benefit from increased man hours on patrol and increased buy-in from the business community and the wider community at large. Most importantly, retail areas would be safer, as offenders often target customers" through pickpocketing, said the organisation.