Garda Station

My girlfriend and I recently fell victim to a pickpocket on Talbot Street. Although we both knew we wouldn’t retrieve the stolen items, we decided to file a police report just to say we had. After waiting fiveteen plus minutes, a rather blasé officer dealt with us, he wrote our report on the blank side of a previously filled out form. The whole visit was quite informal, when I was expecting a bit of professionalism. I understand that the law enforcement service in this country is poor, but I didn’t think it was this poor.

Like Alexandra, I also have a bone to pick with the Gardaí of Store Street. Now, I have nothing good, bad nor indifferent to say about their mode of interaction with members of the public, as I have never dealt with any of them in an official capacity.
My gripe is with whichever cretin whose bright idea it was to get rid of the bicycle racks outside the station. What could the rationale possibly have been? It is true that there is always a load of brass monkeys outside Store St, and no doubt bits and pieces went missing from bikes occasionally, but I’d rather lock my bike up outside a Garda Station than in other parts of the north city centre.
And there isn’t really anywhere else suitable to lock a bike up in the surrounding area. The nearest place that I’d feel comfortable locking up is outside Pearse St Garda Station (where you also see junkballs trying locks, so be careful). It’s true that Pearse St is only an extra two minute cycle, but if you have some business near Store St but have to lock up in Pearse and walk all the way back. well, it’d be a right pain in the bum.
So put back the bike racks, please, and don’t use my use of the word «cretin» as an excuse to ticket me if you catch me breaking a red or whatever.

The guards in Dublin need to work on their image. Personally, I’m intimidated by them because they patrol the city with scowls on their face. Often, they seem to be on their high horse, looking down on the ordinary folks.
My perception wasn’t challenged when I visited the Store Street Garda Station with my flatmate. Everything I just wrote above was basically confirmed.
My flatmate and I weren’t in the station because we’re criminals. Instead, my friend need to speak to a sergent regarding a car he used to possess that had no insurance for.
There was a lone policewoman at the reception desk. She was chatting away about CCTV footage with an older man and only interrupted that conversation to yell at some knackers who were also queuing to speak to her.
I know that as a woman, people often challenge your authority, but this guard totally overreacted and seem to be taking out her hang-​ups on civilians.
She was grumpy as hell when she got to me and my friend. She was also impatient, not taking the time to comprehend my friend’s accented English.
Overall, I wasn’t too impressed with how she handled the situation. People like her make others fear the guards instead of feeling protected.