Permanent Garda presence in key spots in the city

15:47, 24 Nov 2025Updated 15:49, 24 Nov 2025

48 new Gardaí for the Cork City Division(Image: An Garda Síochána Cork)

Cork city centre is due a major security boost, as An Garda Síochána launches a permanent High Visibility Policing Plan from tonight.

The new scheme will see 11 spots across the city given greater policing between 8am and 4am. Gardaí will be present at each of these High Visibility Posts at all times to “provide continuous reassurance to members of the public and promptly deal with incidents.” A total of 23 Gardaí will be assigned to this operation every day, with 11 Gardaí during daytime hours and 12 Gardaí during the night.

The High Visibility Posts were selected after feedback from the community and businesses in the city, as well as crime location data, pointing to areas that need increased policing. It follows a bid to make the city feel safer earlier this month with the launch of a Community Partnership scheme, which will see local businesses and agencies work together to “enhance safety” on our streets.

And two weeks ago, 194 Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves were attested as sworn members of An Garda Síochána at Templemore, with 48 probationary officers allocated to the Southern Region: Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick. Announcing the High Visibility plan, the force said today that officers want to “ensure that the city continues to be a safe place to live, visit, socialise and conduct business.”

The project comes after increasing calls for greater visible policing in Cork, especially after dark. The redesigned Bishop Lucey Park, reopened as a 24-hour space earlier this month, will not have its own dedicated security plan, but it’s hoped that the new overnight policing scheme will help to allay concerns about anti-social and criminal behaviour in the city centre.

New Gardaí in Cork gathered for the High Visibility Policing plan(Image: An Garda Síochána Cork)

Chief Superintendent of the Cork City Division Thomas Myers said: “From my perspective as the Chief Superintendent, I am delighted with the allocation of 48 additional Gardaí to the Cork City Division. This is an acknowledgement that Cork city needed additional resources and we look forward to High Visibility patrols particularly in the build up to Christmas. We will continue to work with our key stakeholders in the City and we very much appreciate their support.”

Assistant Commissioner Eileen Foster of the Southern Region added: “As Assistant Commissioner for the Southern Region, I am delighted to launch the High Visibility Policing Plan for the Cork City Division. Forty Eight (48) additional Gardaí have been assigned to the Cork City Division, which will support this High Visibility Policing Plan.

“These High Visibility foot patrols in Cork City Centre increase Garda visibility and offer public reassurance that public realms and amenities in Cork City Centre are and continue to be safe places to live, visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy. I especially would like to welcome the forty eight additional newly assigned Gardaí to the Cork City Division and wish them well in their new roles in Cork city.”

In a CorkBeo poll last month, 86% of respondents said they don’t feel safe in the city centre after dark. While data from the Central Statistics Office shows that crime in the Southern Region is actually trending downwards for most offences, Cork city centre does have its fair share of issues with antisocial behaviour – and videos of it are often shared widely on social media, contributing to a sense of unease.