Longford

Spotlight on Longford Gardaí in 2025: Service, Safety, and Stronger Communities
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In 2025, the Gardaí in County Longford have continued to demonstrate dedication, innovation, and community partnership in a wide range of areas—crime prevention, road safety, youth engagement, and community outreach. Their efforts have not been without challenges, but the many stories coming out of Longford show how committed Gardaí are to making the county safer, fairer, and more connected. Below are some of the standout achievements and initiatives from this year.

Community Engagement & Youth Empowerment:
‍Garda Community Spirit Sports Day. One of the warmest highlights of the year was the return of the Garda Community Spirit Sports Day for schools in Mid and South Longford. Organised by Garda Declan O’Grady and Garda Anthony Scanlon, with the support of the Longford Community Safety Partnership, Longford Sports Partnership, and Longford County Council, the event saw over 450 children participate, along with numerous transition-year volunteers. The event, held at the Slashers GAA grounds, was a vibrant display of youth, sportsmanship, and community spirit.
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Roscommon-Longford Garda Youth Awards:
‍Another powerful example of fostering positive action among young people is the Roscommon/Longford Garda Youth Awards. In 2025, the awards recognised several young individuals and groups for acts of courage, compassion, community safety, and leadership. Supported by Longford and Roscommon County Councils, these awards shine a light on youth who are making a difference—not only by stepping up in extraordinary times but in everyday acts of kindness.

These youth-focused initiatives help reinforce trust between Gardaí and the younger generation, building relationships that contribute to safer, more cohesive communities.

Road Safety & Law Enforcement:
Speeding and Dangerous Driving Longford Gardaí have been very active in road policing this year, especially around periods of heavy traffic. One particularly striking case was detecting a driver travelling at 179 km/h in a 60 km/h zone on the R194 Granard during the Easter bank holiday period. That weekend also saw over 2,800 speeding detections, numerous breath and oral fluid tests, and multiple arrests for driving under the influence. These kinds of operations underscore the Gardaí’s vigilance in protecting road users and preventing tragedy.

Search & Seizure OperationsIn March 2025, Gardaí carried out coordinated search and seizure operations targeting organised crime, involving properties in Longford and Dublin. The operation resulted in the seizure of 29 vehicles, freezing orders on company accounts amounting to circa €200,000, and evidence of alleged fraud and money-laundering. Such actions show the Gardaí’s readiness to tackle serious cross-county and organised criminal activity.

Crime Trends, Prevention & Statistical Progress:
‍While some categories of offences continue to challenge Longford and the wider Roscommon-Longford division, Garda statistics and initiatives show positive movement in many areas.Under the provisional crime statistics for H1 2025, there are substantial decreases in many offences: theft from person, aggravated burglary, robberies, residential burglary (non-aggravated), criminal damage, affray, and riot/violent disorder are among those showing reductions.

Nationally, crime is down in several categories compared to past years (e.g. 2019), even as population increases. Longford Gardaí are part of that broader trend of sustained crime reduction.

Community Safety Partnerships & Restorative Initiatives:
‍Longford has been proactive in working with local authorities, community groups, and statutory agencies to co-design safety initiatives that reflect local concerns and priorities.The Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs): Because of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, these partnerships are now on a statutory footing. Longford is part of pilot schemes that have already done valuable work. One flagship example is the Cornerstones Initiative, which includes programmes like water safety, sports introduction, boxing integration, and restorative justice approaches. These are not just reactive but aimed at engaging communities to reduce risk and build resilience.

In events like the Age-Friendly Information Day, the inclusion of the Community Garda (for example, Sergeant James Rowan) engaging with older citizens shows the Gardaí are thinking about safety not just in terms of crime but in terms of meeting all community needs, ensuring vulnerable groups are heard, informed, and supported.

Challenges & Continuing Work:
‍No review would be honest without recognising challenges. Burglary rates in the combined Roscommon-Longford division saw a rise in recent periods, and there remain areas (e.g. public order offences, youth anti-social behaviour) that call for persistent effort.

However, the response by the Gardaí has been neither passive nor limited—it has involved robust enforcement, community engagement, education, youth outreach, and strategic planning.

Looking Ahead:
‍The work of the Longford Gardaí in 2025 shows a balance of enforcement, prevention, and community partnership.

To build on that:
Increased investment in youth engagement and diversion programmes will help reduce anti-social behaviour before it escalates.

Sustained, visible road policing and traffic enforcement especially in known hotspot areas.

Continued strengthening of neighbourhood communication and trust—keeping people informed, responsive, and confident in Garda presence.

Deepening and expanding restorative justice approaches, as part of broader safety plans.

Conclusion:
‍In sum, Longford Gardaí in 2025 have shown themselves to be more than just law enforcers, they are active partners in their communities. Whether it’s seizing vehicles linked to organised crime, running their sports day for hundreds of children, honouring youth who quietly change lives, or tackling speeding that risks lives, there is much to be proud of. Their work has already helped make Longford safer, more inclusive, and more resilient, and the foundations laid this year look set to support even stronger progress ahead.