GARDAÍ HAVE begun patrolling armed with pepper spray canisters after the first group were trained how to use them at Garda stations on Monday.
About 300 members have undergone a one-day training course in the use of the spray since the start of the week at Garda stations around the country.
They have been issued with their incapacitant sprays and have already been on the beat armed with the weapon. All members of the force will undergo training in the weeks and months ahead.
The introduction of the sprays comes at a time of increased attacks against gardaí.
According to figures supplied by the Garda Representative Association (GRA), there were 356 assaults on members of the force in 2005. That increased to 502 in 2006 and to 655 in 2007; a near doubling of incidents in just three years.
More up-to-date figures have not been officially released but sources said almost 800 attacks were taking place per year.
GRA vice president Damien McCarthy said the need for the sprays reflected increasing street violence in Ireland. He said there was a greater willingness on the part of some people to assault gardaí.
“The experience in places like the US and Scotland has been that the sprays act as a deterrent to attacks and actually leads to a reduction,” he said.
The introduction of the sprays, which are used to subdue violent and threatening individuals, was first recommended three years ago by the Garda Inspectorate.
The Inspectorate has always said because uniformed gardaí are not armed with firearms, pepper sprays were needed to assist gardaí in protecting themselves from attack, including firearm incidents.
A new policy and procedure document issued by Garda Headquarters warns sprays must only be used as a last resort.