30 Sep New Garda Unit in Mayo to help tackle domestic, sexual and gender based violence

Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon today welcomed the establishment of a new Garda Divisional Protective Services Unit in Mayo, which will ensure the county has a consistent and professional approach to the investigation of sexual and domestic crime

Deputy Dillon said, “ My colleague, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee this week announced that An Garda Síochána had completed the national rollout of the Divisional Protective Services Units.
Garda personnel assigned to DPSUs have been provided with specialised training to help with the investigation of sexual crime and domestic abuse; child protection; online child exploitation and sex offender management.

This training course has been developed by the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB), in conjunction with the Garda College.

Deputy Dillon said: “The dedicated nature of these units means quick access to a sensitively trained and highly informed groups of Gardai for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
“My colleague Minister McEntee has confirmed that a new Divisional Protective Services Unit has been established in Mayo as part of the final national rollout of these vital units.

“The establishment of these units are central to the Government’s efforts to tackle the scourge of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
“In August, Minister McEntee published the O’Malley Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses and indicated that the national rollout of the units be completed by September.
“Worryingly during the lockdown period, there has been a sharp rise in reported incidents of domestic violence as women and their partners remain at home more and we need to ensure that everything is done to prevent this abuse.
“That is why Divisional Protective Services Units are so crucial in support of victims coming forward at a most distressing and vulnerable time in their lives.” Concluded Deputy Dillon.