Sir, – As media reports continue to tell us that rural Ireland has entered a state of lawlessness, it is time for a radical approach to rural policing which will only involve realigning of existing personnel and resources rather than the need for more Government expenditure.
Since we have the Army, we might put it to another use rather than its present role as an overseas police force.
The rural policing role would see Army units patrolling the roads on a 24-hour basis with powers to stop, search and, if required, exercise reasonable force.
Of course, for the soldiers, patrolling the rural roads of northwest Leitrim won’t attract the macho credibility of patrolling the roads of the Golan Heights but in relative terms it would be safer.
Crime is endemic in rural Ireland. Criminals know that rural Ireland is devoid of immediate policing cover and that the chances of meeting a garda are slim.
Even more so when late at night, when unarmed gardaí prefer not to be within the vicinity of potentially armed individuals.
Having the Army operating a rural policing role in conjunction with the Garda would add the iron hand needed to police rural Ireland, while giving rural dwellers a sense of security and a belief that they live in a society that is actually policed regardless of your postal code. – Yours, etc,
JOHN TIERNEY,
Dublin 1.