The event is organised by a committee of members drawn from all areas of policing -Community Police, Divisional Traffic, Detective Unit, Drugs Unit, Operational Units and specially employed.
This year the Garda Open Day is run in conjunction with the Lucan Street Festival and a road closure order is introduced by South Dublin County Council.
The event is geared to all Irish communities, established and new communities.
The venue:
Lucan Station is situated as the centre piece of Lucan Village. The building as an old style Gandon building with a cobble locked front yard at the junction of Main Street with the old Leixlip Road.
The main attraction is the Garda Band performing at the front of the station. A seated area was created in the front courtyard for up to 75 persons to sit and listen to the music prior to entering the station.
There are a variety of Garda services from the Prison City Van, Sub Aqua Unit, Traffic Units to the new Command and Control Unit on display outside the station on the street front and the station yard and each office in the station with displays and advice.
Services on Offer:
The station will close as an operating station from 6am however staff will be on hand to deal with all queries from the public.
As people enter the station they were granted full unrestricted access to the ground floor of the station and to the station yard. Each room in the station had a display, a talk on issues, literature and friendly faces.
The following facilities and services will be on display and available subject to operational requirements on the day:
a) The Garda Band will play in the front courtyard and a dedicated seating area for up to 75 persons.
b) The front lobby decked with information on all matters from ethic relations to crime prevention. Gardai will advice on the material.
c) Garda Reserve stand inside the front door which is manned by Reserve Gardai.
d) Tour of the operating Public Office area by Sergeant in Charge.
e) Literature on Neighbourhood Watch and Aged Initiative.
f) Sergeant Stephen Goode, Divisional Crime Prevention Officer will give advice and information to all visitors on Crime Prevention. Garda Crime Prevention Projects will be on view to the public such as Operation Acer.
g) Local Radio Liffey Sound will broadcast from the Station.
h) The District Drug unit will display the common drugs in use in the district. They will have information on the success and seizures under Operation Firepoint, an operation dedicated to drug seizures in the district. They also had staff to talk with people concerned with drugs. Literature was also distributed on behalf of agencies that deal with addiction in the community.
i) The cell area will be opened and an interesting tour for visitors of all ages.
j) A Garda Prison Van will be on display with restraints
k) Local Detective Unit will display the taking of voluntary fingerprints.
l) Display from the Emergency Response Unit.
m) The Air Support Unit will provide a display of their services to the community.
n) Representative from the Immigration Bureau Office will be present to advise persons on immigration issues and provide information.
o) Garda Mounted Unit .
p) Garda Dog Unit .
q) Garda Under Water Unit
r) Vintage Car
s) Garda Divisional Traffic Motor Cycle Unit.
t) Divisional Traffic Units.
u) Go Safe Van Unit.
v) Dublin Bus Anti Vandalism Advice.
w) A simulated Traffic accident with the ambulance service, fire brigade and Divisional Traffic Unit where mock victims are cut from the wreckage of a vehicle. Depending on availability of services.
x) Public Order unit which put on a friendly face and allow parents and children wear the helmets and carry the shields for photographs.
y) CBRN uniform.
z) Community police van
aa) Garda mountain bike unit.
Services for Children:
• Goody bag of sweets with a drink for kids
• Refreshment of tea, coffee and a biscuit for parents.
Road Closures:
The following Road closures were put in place from 11am in the morning. This allowed the organisers of the street festival to set up events and the crowd to move freely throughout the day. Parking will only be permitted outside the restricted areas and persons are advised to use public transport or walk to the venue where possible.
N4 Slip Road to Lucan Inbound:
Access to Lucan Village is by Adamstown Road at the Newcastle Junction and N4 Slip Road at Woodies.
Celbridge Road at Ardeevin Avenue:
Traffic diverted at Celbridge Road Ardeevin Ave and will not be allowed progress into Lucan Village. Traffic will be diverted onto Ardeevin Estate exiting back onto the N4.
N4 / Adamstown Road at Newcastle Junction:
Main Street in Lucan is closed and traffic is diverted onto Lucan Road . Traffic wishing to travel to Clonsilla and Strawberry beds to use the N4/Lucan Road exit at Woodies.
There was no restriction to traffic at the Newcastle Junction. Traffic was allowed to travel down the Adamstown Road into Lucan Village turning right only on to the Lucan Road.
N4 / Lucan Road at Woodies:
There was no restriction on traffic at the N4 Woodies turn off into Lucan . Traffic travelling to Leixlip should remain on the N4 and exit at Junction 5.
Main Street Lucan at Ulster Bank:
Main Street Lucan is closed and access to the N4 is via Old Hill / Lucan Road and Adamstown Road.
Traffic is not allowed travel up Main Street, Lucan. Traffic coming from the Strawberry Beds, Clonsilla and Laraghcon is diverted to Old Hill Lucan.
Main Street:
There was no vehicular traffic allowed travel onto Main Street Lucan for the duration of the restrictions.