Farmer representatives have called for more gardaí to be deployed to rural areas and given the resources to intervene in communities living in fear of criminals.

Speaking before the Oireachtas committee on justice and equality on Wednesday, IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said: "We’d like to see more patrolling around the countryside."

In addition, "every guard should have access to a patrol car," Kennedy said.

"It’s critical that when we ring the local garda station, we’re not told 'we can’t go because we have no car'. This is one that is happening all the time."

He also highlighted issues with boundaries between garda divisions, with the nearest officers unable to investigate a case if it isn't in their catchment area.

Task force

He and IFA crime prevention executive Barry Carey called for the establishment of a rural crime task force inspired by a similar initiative in the UK. Carey said dedicated officers had tackled specific area, and "it works".

In addition to traditional centralised text alert schemes, the IFA is also trialling a WhatsApp group between people living in a community repeatedly affected by rural crime and gardaí. "It has been working very well," Carey said. "An Garda Síochána is receiving real-time information about the events."

ICSA rural development chair Seamus Sherlock confirmed the feeling of fear experienced by many farming communities. He told TDs and Senators that 66% of farmers surveyed by his organisation had been victims of crime. "There is a sense that gardaí are under resourced," he said. "A lot of gardaí are spending too much time behind their desk. They’ll tell you that themselves."

Take pictures and mark property

Practical advice from the ICSA included taking pictures of suspicious vehicles in case they can assist in an investigation later, and marking property.

Both the IFA and ICSA said they disagreed with previous garda statements to the committee that rural crime was declining. "Undoubtedly there has been an increase in violence and in the severity of violence," Kennedy added, blaming insufficient prosecutions for a sense of impunity among criminals.

Committee chair and Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said he agreed with the submissions from both organisations, including those on the visibility of gardaí on country roads. He also raised concerns about the investigation of cross-border crime in the case of a hard Brexit.

Wednesday's meeting concluded a series of hearings on rural crimes before the committee.

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