Armed Garda unit comes into force

A new initiative aimed at providing an round-the-clock armed Gardai unit in the greater Leinster area was launched in Westmeath last week. The move will mean that armed Gardai would be available for serious incidents in the Athlone region. The Eastern Region Regional Support Unit will be based in Newbridge and Mullingar andwas unveiled on Friday last by Assistant Commissioner Dermot Jennings. Comprising 24 Gardai and two Sergeants, who will both be based in Mullingar, the unit will be under the command of Det. Inspector Martin Cadden. The Gardai will be deployed on normal policing duties but they will have the ability to become an armed unit "within seconds" of receiving an order to arm up. The force has purchased six new XC70 Volvo 'Police Special' vehicles for the unit and the high vis cars have been specially kitted out, with secure compartments for a range of armouring, which includes Sig 9mm pistols as well as Heckler and Koch submachine guns. Apart from lethal weaponry, officers attached to the Support Unit, will be issued with non-lethal weapons, including pepper spray and Taser guns. All of the officers who are now working with the Response Unit, have undergone intense training in a variety of disciplines, including hostage negotiation. All have also undergone paramedic training. During a media briefing at the launch, Asst. Commissioner Jennings said there was no particular reason the Eastern Region was chosen for the roll out of Phase Two of the Regional Armed Support Units. "The first unit was introduced in the South, covering Limerick and Cork and the Commissioner decided that the second unit should be unveiled in the Eastern Region with a similar unit being rolled out in the West shortly". He said the unit will be strategically placed to give more protection to the general public and will be actively deployed to address serious crime. "The officers attached to the unit will operate on a 24 hour basis, carrying out normal patrolling duties. Should a serious incident occur, they can quickly change into tactical uniform and upon direction of a superior officer, will deploy the arms which are carried in the vehicles", Mr. Jennings said. The tactical uniform will consist of baseball caps and shirts which will distinguish them from other unarmed officers. In the event of a very serious incident, the Gardai will wear bullet resistant uniforms. The unit will operate with three man teams, patrolling around the clock across the Eastern Division, which takes in Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, as well as Kildare and Westmeath. Should officers be called to an incident, they will place an 'armed response unit' sticker on the side of their vehicles. "Based on information gathered, the unit will target areas where organised crime is seen to be causing a problem - particularly in the areas of burglaries and the recent spate of ATM robberies", Asst Comm Jennings continued. He said the unit will be involved in carrying out checkpoints and in searching homes of known criminals living in the area. "The Armed Response Unit in the South has been a success and we hope that success will be mirrored here in the Eastern Region". He firmly denied that the establishment of Armed Support Units, was in fact, the arming of An Garda Siochána. "We have always had armed officers in the force, be it in the Detective Units or the Special Branch. This is simply an additional support for the frontline force. It is a normal unit, carrying out normal duties," Asst Comm Jennings stated.