New community policing bus for Athlone launched

A €47,000 community bus, which will primarily be used to provide transportation of youth groups, was launched at Athlone Garda Station on Monday. Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice, who is responsible for community policing nationwide, was in Athlone on Monday to launch the bus, which was purchased through the Department of Children's Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. Sgt Andrew Haran of Athlone's Community Policing Unit explained that the bus will be used primarily for transporting youth groups. He said the bus seats 17 but also can accommodate a wheelchair and would then seat 15 others. The gardai will be responsible for driving the vehicle and Sgt Haran will keep a diary of appointments and has asked local groups to give as much notice as possible for when they will need the bus. Deputy Nicky McFadden, councillors Jim Henson, Frankie Keena and Joe Whelan were in attendance at the launch as well as representatives from the council, RAPID, Westmeath VEC, the Midland Regional Drugs Taskforce, the FAI and local community groups. Addressing those in attendance, Supt Aidan Glacken said community policing was an extension of work gardai had been doing for many years. He said the allocation of funding for the community bus was a tribute to the community policing unit in Athlone and how it has worked in the town. Supt Glacken said the community policing unit worked with the wider community in Athlone and, in particular, with youth groups and this new bus was a way to support the unit in its work. "We have a thriving community policing unit here under Sgt Andy Haran," he said. Supt Glacken added that the community policing unit works with approximately 60 groups and this bus will facilitate all of these groups. "It is now part of the garda fleet and we are delighted to have it. It's a fantastic support to the community policing unit and policing in general in Athlone," he said. Launching the bus, Deputy Commissioner Rice said he was absolutely delighted to be in Athlone for the occasion and said he was delighted that Deputy Nicky McFadden was there and to see political interest in the initiative. "It is equally good to see the people who supported the application and the people who will be using the service here," he said. He said the community policing unit had been based in Athlone since 2006 and when nationally the gardai were devising models for community policing they created four models and the model for big towns was based entirely on the Athlone unit, which he said served the town of Athlone and the rural hinterland very well. Deputy Commissioner Rice said that while people may no longer be investing in banks it was great to see that they were investing in projects such as the new community bus. "It's a good investment. I hope it goes on for many years to serve the young people of this area and the community policing unit," he said.