The Head of the Clare Garda Division says the policing of Shannon Airport is a hindrance to the performance of routine duties in the county.
It comes following a spike in burglaries in rural areas of the county over the weekend as crimnials targetted the homes of people out shopping ahead of the Christmas period.
This year has seen only a slight increase in the number of offences being committed in the Clare Garda Division but despite this, up until last week, the number of burglaries in the county reached its lowest levels in two years.
The Head of the Clare Garda Division says this is mainly due to additional Garda Checkpoints on the county's roads which has created increased visability in towns and villiages.
But there was a spike in crime over the weekend with six burglaries carried out in the Quin and Sixmilebridge areas on Saturday with criminals targetting homes while people were out shopping ahead of the Christmas period.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin says additional Garda Checkpoints and other crime prevention initiatives will be put in place in the coming weeks to quell an upsurge in burglaries in the run up to Christmas.
But he insists that a lack of manpower is putting a strain on resources in the county.
Separately, a new strategy targeting repeat offenders has been launched by the Minister for Justice today.
Figures show repeat offenders are responsible for most crimes, with a quarter of offenders responsible for 75 percent of property crime.
This strategy – which has been piloted in three areas – will see the Gardaí and the Prison and Probation Services identifying prolific offenders and discouraging them from committing further crimes.
