In a bid to fight vandalism and petty crime An Garda Síochána introduce dog patrols in Dublin city centre.
Four Alsatian dogs are to be brought on the beat by An Garda Síochána in central Dublin to meet the growing demand of combating street crime. The dog patrol is attached to the Garda Crime Task Force.
An Garda Síochána insists that under the control of trained handlers their police dogs pose no risk to the general public. The dog is an aid to his Garda handler on the beat and
They're not just putting dogs on the street accompanied by Gardaí.
The introduction of the Garda dog patrol aims to curb vandalism and petty crime such as bag snatching, car theft and mugging.
The introduction of the dogs on the beat is described by Doctor Noel Browne Teachta Dála (TD) as,
Depraved and obscene.
The authorities respond to this criticism, saying it misunderstands the role of the police dog which is always under the control of a trained Garda handler.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 September 1977.
