Crime prevention

Principles of Crime Prevention

Many crime prevention techniques work by making crimes harder to commit. If a crime is hard to commit it is less likely to occur. An Garda Síochána uses established principles as a guide to crime prevention. These are:

Garda National Crime Prevention Unit

In addition to the Divisional CPOs, there are also CPOs attached to the Garda National Crime Prevention Unit (GNCPU) in Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8.

Some of GNCPU’s responsibilities include:

• The promotion of crime prevention and reduction,
• Developing crime prevention literature and campaigns based on crime trends,
• Developing of policies and strategies,
• Working with partner agencies and the public to prevent and crime and reduce harm,
• Researching best practice initiatives and studies,
• Maximising the opportunities to use existing and emerging technology in the prevention of crime,
• Training and support for CPOs

The Garda National Crime Prevention Unit can be contacted at:- 

Garda National Crime Prevention Unit

Garda National Community Engagement Bureau

Garda Headquarters

Phoenix Park

Dublin 8

D08 HN3X

Ireland

Tel: +353 1 666 3669

Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs)

While all members of An Garda Síochána promote crime prevention and reduction, there are members within An Garda Síochána specially trained to carry out the role – Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs). These CPOs are trained to encourage, promote, guide and advise on crime prevention to both the private and business community. CPOs promote and implement national crime prevention initiatives, and will also work locally with both internal colleagues and external parties, to reduce crime and provide advice and expertise in crime prevention and community safety, relevant to the trends in their locality.

CPOs play a critical role in integrating crime prevention principles into policing strategies, personal safety, urban planning, business security, and community engagement.

There is a Crime Prevention Officer attached to each Garda Division. To contact your local Crime Prevention Officer, details can be found here on the Garda website - List of Crime Prevention Officers 

Crime Prevention Officers contribute significantly to community reassurance, reducing fear of crime, and improving quality of life. They bridge the gap between policing, public safety, and urban development, ensuring crime prevention remains a core consideration in policymaking. Their work is proactive rather than reactive, addressing crime risks before they materialise, ultimately reducing demands on frontline policing.

Some CPOs responsibilities include:

Crime Prevention Advice & Security Assessments - includes the conducting of risk assessments and security evaluations for residential properties, businesses, and public institutions and providing tailored security recommendations and promoting compliance with relevant security standards.

Community & Business Engagement - includes developing partnerships with local authorities, businesses and community groups to enhance crime prevention efforts. This can be through meetings, presentations, workshops and/or information sessions on crime prevention strategies.

Supporting vulnerable persons and groups, including older persons, by providing information on scams, fraud prevention, cyber crime, personal security, etc. is an integral part of the role.

Retail & Commercial Crime Prevention – includes advising businesses on internal and external security threats, including retail theft, fraud and cyber crime. Supporting crime prevention initiatives e.g. Business Watch, in shopping centres, retail parks, hospitality venues and collaborate with security professionals and loss prevention teams to mitigate risks.

Promote the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – involves liaising with Local Authorities, architects and others involved in the planning stage of building projects in order to allow the inclusion of security and crime prevention recommendations at an early stage. In addition, CPOs work alongside Local authorities to incorporate crime prevention measures into existing developments, public spaces amongst other projects.

Cyber & Fraud Prevention – includes supporting our colleagues in GNCCB and GNCEB by providing information to businesses and individuals on emerging scams, cyber security threats, financial fraud and digital crime trends in order to combat financial crime, including money muling and online fraud.

Operational Support – includes utilising crime data, reports, and mapping tools (e.g., ArcGIS) to identify crime hotspots and patterns. Working with operational units to develop proactive crime prevention initiatives based on local crime trends. Contributing to the reduction of recidivist behaviour leading to a reduction in victimisation through targeted intervention strategies.

National and Local strategies and policies – includes promoting and supporting the An Garda Síochána’s Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy developed by the Garda National Crime Prevention Unit along with promoting best practice guidelines on all matters crime prevention.

Within each Garda Division, there are specialist Crime Prevention Officers (CPOs). CPOs are trained to encourage, promote and advise on crime prevention in both private and business communities.

Crime Prevention Officer contact details by County:

County	Name	Address	Telephone
Carlow	Jack Swan	Leixlip Garda Station, 19 Station Road, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, W23 P215	01 666 7800
Cavan	Joseph Glackin	Monaghan Garda Station, Plantation Road, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan H18 PK84	047-77261
Clare	Catriona Holohan	Ennis Garda Station, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare V95 TR83	065 6848100
Cork City	Michael O'Connell	Anglesea Street Garda Station, Anglesea  Street, Cork City, Co. Cork T12 K244	021-4522061
Cork North	Mark Daly	Fermoy Garda Station, O'Neill Crowley Quay, Fermoy, Co. Cork P61 PW84	025-82100
Cork West	Morgan O Sullivan	Bandon Garda Station, Weir Street, Bandon Co. Cork P72 AK02	023-8852261
DMR East (Dublin 14, 16, 18, Co. Dublin) Covering the following stations: - Blackrock - Cabinteely - Dun Laoghaire - Dundrum - Shankill - Stepaside	James Malone	Dun Laoghaire Garda Station, 34/35 Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin A96 N299	01-6665000
DMR NC (Dublin 1, 7, 9, 11) Covering the following - Bridewell, DMR - Fitzgibbon St - Mountjoy - Store St	Brendan Dunleavy	Store Street Garda Station, 4 - 6 Store Street, Dublin 1 D01 W773	01-6668000
DMR North (Dublin 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17, Co. Dublin) Covering the following stations: - Balbriggan - Ballymun - Coolock - Clontarf - Garristown - Howth - Lusk - Malahide - Raheny - Rush - Santry - Skerries - Swords	Stephen Kenny	Ballymun Garda Station, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9 D09 F9C5	01-6664400
DMR SC (Dublin 2, 4 and 8) Covering the following stations: - Donnybrook - Irishtown - Kevin St - Kilmainham - Pearse St	Sean O’Sullivan	Pearse Street Garda Station, 1 - 6 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 D02 W289	01-6669000
DMR South (Dublin 6, 6w, 12, 16, 24, Co. Dublin) Covering the following stations: - Crumlin - Rathmines - Rathfarnham - Sundrive - Tallaght - Terenure	Ciaran McLoughlin	Tallaght Garda Station, Belgard Road East, Tallaght, Dublin 24 D24 K796	01-6666000
DMR West (Dublin 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22, Co. Dublin) Covering the following stations: - Blanchardstown - Ballyfermot - Cabra - Clondalkin - Finglas - Lucan - Ronanstown - Rathcoole	Louise McHugh	Cabra Garda Station, Nephin Road, Dublin 7 D07 XN61	01-6667400
Donegal	Fergus McGroary	Letterkenny Garda Station, New Line Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal F92 PC03	074-9167161
Galway	Olivia Fleming	Western Region Headquarters Dublin Road, Renmore, Galway H91 F62K	091 - 337161
Garda National Crime Prevention Unit	Inspector Damian Boland, Sergeants Susan Lawlor, Mark Bolger, Louise Duffy, Pauline Glennon	Garda National Crime Prevention Unit, Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, D08 HN3X	01-6663869
Kerry	Michael Quirke	Tralee Garda Station, New Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry V92 EV79	066-7102300
Kildare	Jack Swan	Leixlip Garda Station, 19 Station Road, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, W23 P215	01 666 7800
Kilkenny	Edward Brennan	Kilkenny Garda Station, Dominic Street, Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, R95 R291	067 775000
Laois	Graham Kavanagh	Clonaslee Garda Station, Main Street, Clonaslee, Co. Laois R32 W7C0	057-8674100 Portlaoise 057-8648057 Clonaslee
Leitrim	Cara Kiernan	Sligo Garda Station, Pearse Road, Sligo, Co. Sligo F91 E372	071-9157000
Limerick	Michelle          O’ Halloran	Henry Street Garda Station, Henry Street, Limerick City, Co. Limerick V94 VY64	061-212461
Longford	Damian Bartley	Roscommon Garda Station, Abbey Street, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon F42 HN32	090-6638361
Louth	John Heavey	Dunleer Garda Station, Main Street, Dunleer, Co. Louth A92 FH97	041-6862385
Mayo	Seán Cunnane	Claremorris Garda Station, Mount Street, Claremorris, Co. Mayo F12 VY68	094-9372080
Meath	John Coggins	Kells Garda Station, Fairgreen, Kells, Co. Meath A82 Y662	046-9280820
Monaghan	Joseph Glackin	Monaghan Garda Station, Plantation Road, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan H18 PK84	047-77261
Offaly	Graham Kavanagh	Clonaslee Garda Station, Main Street, Clonaslee, Co. Laois R32 W7C0	057-8674100 Portlaoise 057-8648057 Clonaslee
Roscommon	Damian Bartley	Roscommon Garda Station, Abbey Street, Roscommon, Co. Roscommon F42 HN32	090-6638361
Sligo	Cara Kiernan	Sligo Garda Station, Pearse Road, Sligo, Co. Sligo F91 E372	071-9157000
Tipperary	John McCormack	Thurles Garda Station, Slieve na Mon Road Co. Tipperary E41 DW67	0504-25100
Waterford	Deirdre O'Neill	Dunmore East Garda Station, Barrack Lane, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford X91 V275	051-305300
Westmeath	Brian Stones	Mullingar Garda Station, College Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath N91 TF85	044-9384061
Wexford	Eddie Wilde	Wexford Garda Station     Mulgannon, Wexford Town, Co. Wexford Y35 DH60	053-9165200
Wicklow	John Fitzpatrick	Bray Garda Station, Convent Avenue, Bray, Co. Wicklow A98 E093	01-666 5300

All details correct as of the 5th March 2025.