Do you feel unsafe in Tipperary? Locals take to social media to share their thoughts

In a recent press release Newport councillor Fiona Bonfield slammed the Government’s failure to deliver an effective policing strategy and in doing so mentioned that people tell [councillors] every day that they feel unsafe in their own neighbourhood.

This release was shared through the Tipperary Star and Nenagh Live in print and online and has since sparked some interesting discussion about how people are feeling about safety locally.

Members of the Nenagh Community News Facebook group shared their thoughts about the release with one user saying: "All the closures of community stations and consolidation of resources have led to local communities feeling more isolated. The closure of Garda stations was made worse with the closure of post offices and a variety other of small local services."

Another said: "Very few women that I know would walk on their own and several have told me that it means they can't attend various things that give them freedom and some fun."

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One more wrote: "Fiona is meeting a lot of people in rural areas in north Tipp and I’m sure many don’t feel safe. In my area the guards can’t even decide which Garda station covers us. You could be put through to three different Garda stations before they decide who will even talk to you. Lots of robberies and no one to call."

It wasn't all bad with some saying they feel safer now than they did years ago there is certainly a feeling amongst many, particular members of an older generation, who feel uncomfortable in their surroundings.

Since the dissolution of the Joint Policing Committee in Tipperary, there hasn't been a huge amount of local crime statistics shared publicly but here are just some of the most recent CSO statistics on crime for the Tipperary division in Q4 of 2024:

• Rape and sexual assault - 25 recorded crime incidents
• Other sexual offences - 5 recorded crime incidents
• Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences - 141 recorded crime incidents
• Kidnapping and related incidents - 1 recorded crime incident
• False imprisonment - 1 recorded crime incident
• Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences - 9 recorded crime incidents
• Burglary and related offences - 81 recorded crime incidents
• Theft and related offences - 349 recorded crime incidents
• Criminal damage (not arson) - 192 recorded crime incidents
• Disorderly conduct - 203 recorded crime incidents

How do you feel about safety in Tipperary? Let us know in the comments.