Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith has criticised the Government’s proposal to establish 30 police posts, describing the initiative as an outdated approach that would do little to reduce crime or improve police response times.

In a statement issued on Monday shortly after the Government’s plan to establish 30 joint army-police posts throughout the country was announced, Griffith argued that increasing the number of police posts was not a modern crime-fighting strategy but instead reflected “a 1970s approach to policing” rather than the intelligence-led and technology-driven model needed to address current criminal activity.

“The Prime Minister’s announcement of 30 police posts is not a modern crime-fighting strategy,” Griffith said. “It is an outdated, cosmetic measure that may create the appearance of action but will do little to deter criminals, reduce crime or improve the police response to citizens in distress.”