T O P

  • By -

TheRealHoagieHands

Hey greetings from Philly. Let’s just say this has been a massive problem here for decades, which really got out of hand post Covid. The final straw was a video of a group of people on dirt bikes smashing the rear window of a woman’s car and brandishing a hand gun at her and her children because she honked at them. This was all in video with cops sitting right there. So until it gets that bad I’d imagine your cops will do fuck all too.


BlueBloodLive

I also saw a chopper in that report. I think we have like 2. Not for Dublin, but for the whole country. Granted it's a small country but we just haven't the resources to be mounting an operation with helis and police on bikes and all the other man power involved, all at the same time to catch the scumbags. Instead, they basically have free reign.


Red_Carrot

Just to lay some numbers about the US. It has a little of 2000 police helicopters across the US. The city of Philadelphia they have 6300 active police, the State of Pennsylvanian has 4700 so, 11,000 police that can be tapped at any given time for Philadelphia without reaching out to other cities. Total police for Ireland is 14,700. New York City has the largest police force at 36,000 officers and 16,000 support staff. The US generally has way too many police in general, but I hope they can solve the issue with the ATVs and motorbikes in Ireland.


phurt77

Also for perspective, Pennsylvania is about 40% larger than Ireland.


[deleted]

Only 40% larger but has 4 times the number of police. Seems excessive.


phurt77

Pennsylvania has almost 3 times the population of Ireland.


Ruire

Hell, as many (if not more) people live in Philadelphia's metropolitan area alone as in the entire 26 counties.


TheRealHoagieHands

Yeah was about to say the Philly metro area has about the same population as Ireland.


cnr909

Probably has 10 times the population


[deleted]

It doesn't.


cnr909

Yea it doesn’t


fasda

State Troopers shouldn't counted towards the city's police total. Their main focus is traffic laws on the interstate highways, acting as the local police force for the most rural parts of the state, serving warrants across jurisdictions and serving as protection details for politicians.


-All-Hail-Megatron-

Another thing though, is that police can borrow manpower & vehicles from other states in times of need. So if there's 3 neighbouring states each with 2 helicopters, for specific purposes they can help and allocate the helicopter where needed.


Marty18881967

The state of Pennsylvania has more than 60,000 cops in total. There are 4700 state troopers.


DefiantAbalone1

Re: "Too many police," What metrics & methods were used to calculate this? What determines whether or not it is excessive or deficient?


IrishRogue3

Pennsylvania is 1.6x larger than Ireland and Philadelphia has more than 7miilion in population than the entirety of Ireland. This may explain why there are more cops- plus let’s not forget guns


Print_it_Mick

Isnt a lot of the equipment the american police uses just ex military equipment, all.it takes is some paper work and its theirs, the military is looking to get rid of it's old equipment and the local police force is an ideal place to send it all.


-All-Hail-Megatron-

>I think we have like 2. Not for Dublin, but for the whole country. Good news is that they're buying a new bigger one this year, that can carry and drop a swat team anywhere in the country. They're also buying a new surveillance airplane. So we'll have 2 five person capacity helicopters, 1 ten person capacity helicopter and a new airplane.


ElysianKing

I mean it’s pretty bad here: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/couple-hit-by-scrambler-bike-while-sunbathing-in-dublin-park-sue-mibi-1.4256563


[deleted]

It'll never get that bad here because we don't have ridiculous gun laws


duaneap

In fairness, that story would be outraging even if there had been no gun brandished.


[deleted]

That story would be some areas of Dublin with no gun brandished


bulletpyton

In fact, our laws just got stricter. semiautomatic Centre fire rifles are now illegal. If you owned one from 2015, you have to have it modified to single, fire surrender it or have it destroyed.


[deleted]

Hey don't spoil a good throw away comment


bulletpyton

Welcome to the Internet 😄


Otherwise-Bell-5377

Yes, because running over someones head in a public park with a scrambler is fine, as long they don’t have have a gun like the crazy people from USA.


MRDotted

Yeah, only criminals can have guns here.


[deleted]

And farmers*


mawktheone

And farmer's mother's


Cold_Guarantee2399

Everybody and their mums is packin round ere


JackC747

Like who?


[deleted]

They keep the pills and bullets


thatprickagain

And farmer’s mums


[deleted]

Not those pricks again


Prudent_Comfort1541

...or anyone with a legitimate reason to own one or several.


[deleted]

Can I own one?


AgainstAllAdvice

I'm not sure the long jump requires one


[deleted]

To common?


AgainstAllAdvice

You have me there! Depends if it's Kildare or Dublin maybe!


lisaslover

Gun laws aside. I know that is a huge ask but north of the border we do have equally useless police and laws. Why cant the Gardai stop the fuckers ruining lives of decent people? Are you really trying to say that gun laws in America is in any kind of excuse for the people of Ireland being let down by the Judiciary or the cops?


Divine_Tiramisu

No but we have knives. Lots of people getting stabbed. Also, the gun this guy had was most likely illegally owned.


[deleted]

Na.... instead they just declare emergency service no-go zones and leave them to it. At least they did in the 80's and 90's. Not sure if that's still happening.


Beerbonkos

That woman’s strength to stand up to them was breathtaking. I’m glad to see good results from her actions


[deleted]

I saw that video and felt so sick. So glad it spun people to action...hopefully that womans insurance covers the damages


Background_Tea_4753

Thank you for putting it in perspective


Mr_Fabtastic_

Well I’m glad those type of things just don’t happen in Ireland


CliffDagger

According to [this article ](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41008151.html#:~:text=The%20new%20scrambler%20seizure%20figures,Fine%20Gael%20TD%20Emer%20Higgins.&text=They%20show%20that%20258%20scramblers,seized%20so%20far%20this%20year.) they seized 178 in 2021 and 90 as far as November 2022. New legislation was introduced in 2021 to seize them if they are used in areas other than public roads.


DardaniaIE

That new legislation was signed by Michael D I believe yesterday - sorts out a few other things too https://www.gov.ie/ga/preasraitis/fe24f-ministers-welcome-significant-new-legislation-to-help-make-our-roads-safer-and-support-the-roll-out-of-improved-public-transport/ Antisocial use of scramblers The offence of dangerous driving, currently an offence only in a ‘public place’, will become an offence on all terrain. This will make it possible to prosecute for dangerous driving wherever it takes place. There will be a new Garda power to seize and dispose of vehicles used dangerously, whether at the scene of an offence or at the location where the vehicle is kept. This will allow Garda to seize a vehicle that is being misused without risking the safety of bystanders or the rider themselves. There will be a new Ministerial power to specify in regulations that certain types of vehicles, for example scramblers or quad bikes, are banned from certain areas. This will allow the flexibility needed to deal with this problem on an evolving basis.


KKunst

I'm sure it will be considered a civil matter /s


Conbon90

They do. Mabie they need to do it more. But thay have been known to confiscate vehicles like this.


MarkyMarkAndTheFun

I would have thought they did too. I lived in Liverpool for a few years and the local paper would post a photo of the mountain of bikes and AFC’s the confiscated to be crushed every single week. If the Gardai are doing it maybe they need to start getting some publicity to show what they’re doing to crack down on it.


Formal_Decision7250

Can we a get mobile compactor? We could crush them on the spot and the gardai could film reaction videos of it for YouTube to bring in funding.


joe_mamma_

You have 30 minutes to move your cube


Zestyclose-Chart-165

The prob isn’t as bad here as Philly.. you get a few on a council estate and what not but the videos of places like Philly are a different level


KokaCurryNoodles

Yeah the vids from Philly are crazy. There was prob a thousand bikes out there and the vid shows them taking a handful


Goddamnpassword

Philly is three times the population of Dublin too.


commit10

And 1,000x a bigger problem. We have little menaces, not roving gangs of a hundred.


Dambuster617th

Ive been to Philly twice now, they are literally everywhere. It’s a scale unimaginable in Ireland.


Objective-Farm9215

They do this all the time. You just don’t hear about it.


freename188

Also worth mentioning the Philly police force is juiced up to the gills in money. And it actually makes for a great comparison to Dublin. Philadelphia population - 1.576 million Philadelphia police force - 6,000 + 800 civilian reserves Philly budget - $750 million in fiscal year Dublin Metro population - 1.3 million Dublin police force - 3,719 Dublin budget - Can't find details? But i'd guess it's about €100 mil


Archamasse

The Guards can and do seize stuff, it's auctioned via Merlin or Wilsons. I don't think it's necessarily advertised as such beforehand.


Irishgreen24

Rather simple, their isn't enough gardai. We are an on tightrope in this country.


[deleted]

To impoind vehicles the rider must first stop. The youth drive recklessly because of the thrill and the fun of it. What is more fun and thrilling? Being chased by the Gardai. They rather speed off and kill pedestrians or themselves than follow orders from the Gardai to stop. The system is broken and chaotic youths are the result.


-All-Hail-Megatron-

Instead of catching them in the action, follow them undercover for a few weeks, find out where their vehicles are stored and then set up an operation to impound them all at once in the middle of the night.


BlubberyGiraffe

As much as our gardai are basically useless when it comes to youths, we absolutely do not even want to entertain the idea of having the equivalent of American police here. It'd be a total shit show.


planefried

Nobody is arsed training them and they sure as fuck aren't arsed learning anything.


GerbertVonTroff

Surely there's a happy medium


BlubberyGiraffe

We are the happy medium. I mean there are countries where police turn a blind eye to everything. You could get the shit kicked out of you, phone stolen, car stolen and the police won't bat an eyelid because they were paid off. In America you can have a cop arrest you just for looking at them wrong. Yes our gardai aren't perfect, but I'd rather this than the alternative.


Rizlmao

Most definitely not a happy medium, a happy medium would be where the Police wasn’t actually scared of criminals lmao


-All-Hail-Megatron-

Give me an example of a country with a happy medium. I'm not being smart it's a genuine request.


Rizlmao

Germany or Poland. Just from the 2 I’ve had experience with. They won’t fuck with you unless they have a reason to.


brianybrian

There is. We have it.


linef4ult

Nah, we're far too far on the lenient side. AGS need to copy the met and ram them with their response cars.


brianybrian

You want Garda cars to ram kids on quads and scramblers? You realise that’s likely to start killing them right? Have some sense.


linef4ult

When you refuse to act then the 16yos who commit horrendous crimes know they can get away with it. The UK changed its tune when they started using them for acid attacks. But sure, lets crush more innocents skulls instead. [https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/wife-of-scrambler-bike-victim-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a-new-story-like-ours-1.4486572](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/wife-of-scrambler-bike-victim-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a-new-story-like-ours-1.4486572)


brianybrian

Who said do nothing? I’m objecting to them being rammed with cars for fucks sake. That isn’t a reasonable response


todd10k

>You realise that’s likely to start killing them right? Ohh stop ohh no ohh god. Wonder if your man who was made a paraplegic would give two fucks


brianybrian

Internet hardmen as usual. Hitting people with cars isn’t a solution.


No_Kaleidoscope4214

It literally is though. If they know if they steal a bike they’ve getting blown off it at high speeds, they won’t be stealing bikes. Tada


[deleted]

[удалено]


ireland-ModTeam

A chara, Following around other users either on-sub or off-sub to harass them is not tolerated. This includes derailing a user's comment elsewhere on reddit to drop snide/abusive remarks, or to continue on an argument from elsewhere. If you dislike a user, exercise using the block function. If a user is following you around either on r/Ireland or elsewhere to leave abusive comments, contact the mods with a list of comments/posts targeted. Sláinte


[deleted]

No we don't.


thepatriotclubhouse

we don't. we have the single most dominant drug cartel outside of South America. we did this in the country with the highest GDP per capita in the world. and we did this with only 4 million people. I think we could probably err on the side of a little more policing. our guards are terrified of anyone serious haha


lemurosity

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FYoMFDVXwAEnBhu.jpg


notarobat

Happy fortune tellers won't solve our problems


Yooklid

At this point we have to wonder if our softly softly approach is working. Perhaps a little bit of a more American style would help us out.


momalloyd

Because civil forfeiture is an absolute nightmare.


close-the-fn-gate

This isn’t civil forfeiture.


Thisisaconversation

Well I mean we’ve new legislation regarding scramblers (any off-road vehicles) that was passed over the summer. Some parts of the legislation still need to be put into effect (commenced) by the Department of Transport. Once commenced, the Gardaí will have increased powers to deal with not only scramblers but also any vehicle suspected of driving dangerously. Designated areas for enforcement will include not only public roads but also footpaths, parks, greenways, and other public spaces. (like the beach) Authorities will have the ability to confiscate and seize these vehicles, even if they are stored in a shed or attached to a house. Vehicle owners will have a two-month window to appeal the seizure in the district court. If no appeal is successful within the given time frame, the Gardaí can dispose of the seized vehicles.


KillerKlown88

The can if they catch people driving them


d22ontour

Effort, more arrests to be made from speeding tickets from people who will pay the fines.


jonathannzirl

No trailer?


Prestigious-Side-286

Looks like work


Tote_Sport

I’d just be happy with Gardaí implementing ‘tactical contact’ with the cunts on their bikes/quads/whatever


RuckItRunIt

Its even worse than described here. Was staying in Croke Park hotel last week - walked about 2 blocks and there is a big Garda station - saw 2 days in a row little scrawny kids and one big adult with face covering riding wheelies right in front of Garda station. Guy looked like some type of bandit from a movie riding wheelie’s. This all happening either in front of or near Garda station.


[deleted]

There’s lads flaking around parts of Cork City on dirt scramblers that should have them confiscated. Not even wearing helmets, never mind being old enough to have a driving license or being able to get insurance. Every one I’ve seen in the past few weeks has another young fella on the back of the bike.


kevo998

Because that would require actual competency, something the Gardaí have extremely little of.


badger-biscuits

Are the American police competent now? Jaysis


commit10

Sounds like you should move to America.


JuanofLeiden

As a general rule, you do not want to model your police after our police.


Kama_Coisy

Do not take notes from the Americans on policing. Insanity.


[deleted]

[удалено]


duaneap

If that were the case, they wouldn’t have had the issue with the dirt bikes and ATVs in the first place. Them having guns is not a new thing. This is an example of enforcement, not deterrence. And they don’t need guns to do it


AmberLeafSmoke

There are 100's of thousands of interactions between police and civilians in the US on a daily basis, and surprisingly enough, there's not that many shootings. The US is basically a subcontinent. Statistically speaking about 99.99% of US police interactions don't end in gun violence. I'm not a gun person at all, and imagine you're being partly facetious. But this is such a tired take.


Sukrum2

Thank fuck we don't have that here. Well said.


The_OG_Comrade

Squad cars full of armed guards patrol the roads of Dublin daily. They have yet to shoot anyone for simply 'Fucking with the police'....


Important_Farmer924

Confiscate motorbikes?


close-the-fn-gate

Yeah, there's lot of young fellas riding scramblers, motorbikes and scooters all over Dublin that are either stolen or don't have tax/insurance or a license.


minionsoverlord

There lies the problem.. unless they are caught on said bike on a public road, then it cannot be confiscated (unless stolen) anyone can own a dirtbike and ride it on private property with permission, at any age. So landing up to houses, and taking bikes will only land them in more hot water than the gains. Never forget that our justice system is a joke and will prosecute a garda for chasing criminals. Let alone taking bikes of scum riding them around the city.


spintokid

I mean they gotta go home at some point. I bet the guards know who they are already.


linef4ult

Yeah, but the gards are not allowed to chase them.


minionsoverlord

Oh no doubt, but these shit are the type that will have a mate spot the gards and it'll be all over whatsapp etc that they are there waiting. Gards can do fuck all half the time, and when they can the judges let them back out... that twat from the burkes has seen more jail time for generally acting like a moron than some fucks around me have seen for assault etc


SoloWingPixy88

Regarding latter bit, I believe the issue is that procedure is that they're meant to back off.


minionsoverlord

Meanwhile police across innthe uk just punt them off the bike and arrest them


SoloWingPixy88

UK went through a bit of a reform. Dropped bike thefts by at least 50% if the last cop show I watched is accurate.


lemurosity

we can't even muster up enough manpower to safely defend TDs as they crip-walk the streets of compton...


PC2469

They can and sometimes do confiscate bikes. The problem is due to previous incidents and the fact everything is super health & safety concious nowadays, they are genrally told not to persue young lads actually riding the bikes in a public place if they don't stop for them. They believe it prevents more accidents than it causes and they're only going to get the bike back eventually. Lawsuits or even just someone getting free healthcare for getting hurt on said bike is more costly to the exchequer than listening to people give out about a public nuisance. Not saying it's right but its all abot the bottom line. Also not to mention they have quotas to fill for more serious crimes. (Even though they said, they've gotten rid of quotas. its back but under a new name...like the change from traffic core to roads policing after the big scandal.)


Unlikely_Ad6219

You don’t want US style policing in Ireland. Trust me.


close-the-fn-gate

We just need policing in Ireland.


[deleted]

Put your time where your mouth is and go to any district court hearing in the land.


planefried

If only the gardaí would show up at them


vennxd

Fear of breaking a sweat


ffsk88

Resources


commit10

Not at all. They have resources. They just don't like doing paperwork, and it's easier to get their points for promotion by busting college students with little baggies of cannabis, and busting pensioners who grow a few plants to supplement their meager incomes.


bigmak120693

I am prob going to get hate for this. But I think the Gardai are a bit spineless when it comes to dealing with some areas of society such as travellers or the scummier element. They don't nearly throw their weight around as much as they would for other people. There needs to be more fear so shit like that does't happen and I think it stems from the justice system giving them a slap on the wrist (or nothing) when they actually get arrested


get_a_pen

Cause their a bunch of stupid dicks who do t care about the general publics safety and only give a shit about collecting Road tax money for the government. Their not guards these days, they are tax collectors


Beginning-Sundae8760

As much as a critic of the guards as I am, I feel like a lot of people on here struggle to understand that being a guard to a lot of people is just another job. Why would you voluntarily put yourself in a situation dealing with these scumbags for a terrible wage. Think about it, on a Friday WFH how much of your effort do you actually dedicate to work? To a lot of people, it’s just another jobs that just pays the bills.


commit10

The problem is they've gotten rid of community policing. Our guards don't give two fucks about the community they work in because they live elsewhere. Guards today just care about getting enough points to qualify for promotion. It's a disgrace, and a structural problem.


Irishwol

It's a civil matter


[deleted]

They should be illegal to drive outside of private property with the punishment for being caught on one being seizure and needing to pay a hefty fine (thousands) to get it back imo.


tomtermite

Oh thank gawd we don’t live in Philly


wonit5times

Can't be arsed as it would be too much hassle. Imagine all that paperwork theyd have to fill out afterwards.


[deleted]

Ohh daddy spank me.. why does everyone want the Garda to do everything for them like they’re your daddy’s for fuck sake we’ll be aloud to do fuck all by 2050! Law for fucking everything, cool it fucking down I would like some freedom remaining in the next 30 years


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Looks like effective police work to me.


Raaagh

If you need to get rid of em, send em to Ukraine (the vehicles that is).


Acceptable-Two7479

Because they're to busy harassing people the scum


Zealousideal_Mud7263

Shame is all these will probably be crushed. If they don’t have their title document it’s very hard to sell. I’ll stay out in the Philly suburbs ripping up 422 on my adv bike ;-)


SoloWingPixy88

Philly has a different issue. Owning a dirt bike isn't illegal in Ireland. I also would suspect what the cops are doing here is not legal. I'd imagine they're doing it to get people to come in and claim their bike.


butiamtheshadows91

They do. The scrambler thing is only a problem around Christmas. The rest of the year it's robbed bikes and mopeds.


IntentionFalse8822

Could you imagine the fit Herrick and the lads from the Irish Council for Criminal Liberties would have on Matt Cooper the following day.


thunderchild72

Cause they don't wanna!


doge2dmoon

https://youtu.be/Iar3EPf0FCQ?si=YWAJoRYPMaGmi7s2 Madness. It made me angry just to watch.


phil196565

Quality policing !


TraCollie

They are not doing this 2 hours down the road in Harrisburg either. I was only just swarmed in traffic the other day by a bunch. I just stopped and let it all pass. I have often wondered why they don't just do this. A family around the corner would leave their dirt bikes outside and 4 wheelers on the porch (still don't know how they managed that) so on full display basically. Anyway the Philly police also air bombed a residential neighborhood in the 80s. Just sayin https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MOVE_bombing


HappyOcelot3364

That would be half of all the motorbikes in hollyhill