Madam, - With each year that passes it seems the centre of our capital city is becoming a more dangerous place, especially at night. It need not be thus. Other great cities are proof of that.
We need more people living in the city centre and more amenities, entertainment and cultural activity to attract people there. Public transport is improving but more needs to be done. Most of all people need to feel safe. This requires more visible policing.
A measure I believe would help is the construction of a number of transparent kiosks around the city, large enough to accommodate two gardaí with appropriate communication and observation equipment. They could see us - and, more importantly, we could see them. Should the need arise we would know where to find them. To start I would suggest the erection of one such unit between the Dublin Spire and O'Connell Bridge.
Last week I was in Caracas, Venezuela, in the Sabana Grande district, noted for petty theft, robbery and armed assault. There I saw such a system in operation and I can tell your readers that it works. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL COSTELLO, Monkstown, Co Dublin.