Mandatory sentencing for assault of Gardaí and other frontline workers, and the issuing of tasers would help make things safer for them.
That's according to the GRA representative for Sligo-Leitrim Ray Wims who says there's been a clear and societal change in relation to peoples interaction with gardaí.
He says anyone who joins a service like An Garda Siochana has no illusions about the situations they will have to deal with, but they also need to be given all the necessary help in those circumstances.
Speaking about the call from the Garda Representative Association this week for a special Taskforce to be set up to address the challenges faced by the force, Garda Wims says they've been asking for help so far without much success.
"Not for one moment when I joined An Garda Síochana, or any other member, did we not realise we'd be dealing with violent sections of the community, people who are aggressive and drunk, but it's the increase in assaults and societal change that it's ok to assault a Garda. We've been calling for mandatory sentencing for assaults on frontline workers including nurses, ambulance staff, and Gardai, but we've also been calling for tasers. At the moment Gardaí have pepper spray and they have an ASP and the next then is call for armed support from the armed support unit".
