GRA to call for rural reinforcements

Updated: 19:46, Monday, 27 April 2009

Gardaí are calling for extra members in rural areas to enable faster responses to reports of crime.

1 of 1Gardaí - GRA conference in Killarney
Gardaí - GRA conference in Killarney

Rank and file officers also want their numbers to be brought up to the promised 16,000.

The demands will be issued at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association, which is opening in Killarney in Co Kerry today.

The GRA represents over 6,000 gardaí.

Delegates will call on the Garda Commissioner to issue each member with a taser - a handheld weapon which is used to briefly subdue someone by delivering an electric shock.

They also want new legislation to enable those who attack gardaí to be tested for infectious diseases and a new offence of assault on emergency personnel to be created.

Pay conditions and the pension levy will also be debated at the conference.

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