Retailers Call For More Gardai On Wexford Streets To Stop Anti Social Behaviour

A group representing shop owners in Wexford Town says the town needs an increased Garda presence during weekend nights.

The Wexford Retail Crime Prevention Forum says businesses are being affected by the rise of anti social behaviour in the area.

The group says unsupervised groups of young people regularly engage in vocal intimidation, property damage and challenging passers-by.

Spokesperson Emmet Moloney says Gardai need to be more present to act as a deterrent:

"We do have community guards but are they being used utilised correctly.

"For the ratepayers and the bystanders in Wexford, they need an active Garda presence on the Main Street but what I'm calling for is definitely from 7pm to 2am, from Thursday through to Saturday night because that's when we've seen a significant increase in crime over the last few weeks."

Shop owners are also calling for moveable bollards to be installed on Wexford main street to help Gardai.

Squad cars aren't able to access some parts of the street and chase subjects due to permanent infrastructure in the area.

Mr Moloney says a small change could make a huge difference in crime prevention:

"At the corner of Rowe Street there are bollards and it's a problem for the Guards where they're pursuing somebody because they can't get through.

"All of a sudden, you've young lads on scooters or bikes or running down lanes and bang, they're gone.

"What needs to happen is the approach they take in Waterford where the bollards can be turned with a key so if we had those, the Guards could drive straight through."

Mr Moloney says Wexford County Council has a role to play here and that the buck has been passed for too long.

"There's not an appetite for it. I've spoken to several councillors several times and they tell me 'ah sure the retailers don't want to do anything about this' but that's far from the truth.

"The amount of people that have actually come into me and given me messages saying this is what I'm experiencing".

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.