Why do banks have to pay for security?

[cyberianpan]

Fri 11 May

The banking industry will pay 90 per cent of the estimated €6 million annual costs associated with providing Garda cash in transit escorts.

under which the banks pay 100 per cent of the costs associated with the provision of such escorts by Defence Forces personnel

[Michael McDowell ] said the impetus for the involvement of the gardaí and the defence forces was the "persistent threat" of robbery.

Insomuch as this discourages frivolous or extra cash runs by banks this is welcome, however why should they pay for security ?

I now some of p.ie's loony left will just see red & say that the banks make too much profits & anything the state can hit them for it ought take but:

Surely we all need banks to transport cash safely ? We already pay various taxes to the state & for this we expect sound security. The banks as entities also pay taxes..

What next a shop to pay the Garda €1000 to investigate a break-in ? Maybe we can abolish taxes altogether & just pay for what we want ? :P

cYp

[rockofcashel]

they should pay, because it is their own property that requires security.

[jerryp]

Do you honestly think that the banks pay for this, they do in my rear-end, the customers pay for it with all the dubious charges levied against them.

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

Do you honestly think that the banks pay for this, they do in my rear-end, the customers pay for it with all the dubious charges levied against them.

and when you try to claim it back you have some garda who you paid for getting all agro. how ironic

[Ronanr]

Banks pay for it because it is an unusual situation - the Garda are really acting as the personal security guards for the banks in that situation. Doing that is not part of the Guards normal duties (ie, their roster or beat) - they might be even doing it on overtime!


Same as with Croke Park during a match, the GAA pay for the extra litter collection and Garda presence needed.

Paying taxes entitles you to the protection of the Garda Siochana in general, but not any PARTICULAR service from them.

A comparable situation would be if you went down to the Garda station and asked them to station a guard over your house while all your family were at a family wedding, say. You would be given short shrift unless you too offered to pay for it, too.

[stringjack]

A comparable situation would be if you went down to the Garda station and asked them to station a guard over your house while all your family were at a family wedding, say. You would be given short shrift unless you too offered to pay for it, too.

Suppose you were organising a parade and there were lots of people in the city who didn't like you, so much so that they would likely cause a riot or attack you if you attempted to march through the streets promoting things they found disgusting, indecent or immoral. Do you think you should have to pay for special Garda security to protect the parade?

[cyberianpan]

Paying taxes entitles you to the protection of the Garda Siochana in general, but not any PARTICULAR service from them.

Yes but say if we couldn't pay for a particular Garda service: then I bet the cops would still give the same level of escort to the money vans ? The problem is they are a guaranteed target.... Whilst the banks may be asking for the service I think the gardai would be obliged to give it anyway.

The wedding case isn't really a guaranteed target. Also the concert case: well assuming that broadly say 50% of Gardai are allocated to public duties=6,000 & the public is 4,000,000. This implies 1 garda per 666 people( :twisted: ) . So at a Croke Park concert of say 60,000 there ought be 90 gardai for starters ? (that's leaving out the the 60,000 are porbably more "active"/public people than average & thus would probably need > 1:666).

cYp

[Ronanr]

So at a Croke Park concert of say 60,000 there ought be 90 gardai for starters ?

It doesn't really follow. Those 60,000 people would be from all over the country, the Guards (presuming under your system there was no extra bodies due to overtime) would be from north Dublin.

So you might have all of north Dublin left defenceless just so the Guards could police all the Cork, Kerry, Mayo etc. people at Croke Park.

Of course you could send one or two guards up from each of Cork, Mayo, Kerry etc. But who would pay the extra expense? And who SHOULD pay?

[cyberianpan]

So at a Croke Park concert of say 60,000 there ought be 90 gardai for starters ?

It doesn't really follow. Those 60,000 people would be from all over the country, the Guards (presuming under your system there was no extra bodies due to overtime) would be from north Dublin.

So you might have all of north Dublin left defenceless just so the Guards could police all the Cork, Kerry, Mayo etc. people at Croke Park.

Of course you could send one or two guards up from each of Cork, Mayo, Kerry etc. But who would pay the extra expense? And who SHOULD pay?

Mmmmm but where do the Croker gardaí come from usually ? What about the higher crowds in Grafton Street on say Saturday ? As SJ mentioned what about parades ? Demonstrations ? The garda is meant to be flexible.

cYp

[Ronanr]

Suppose you were organising a parade and there were lots of people in the city who didn't like you, so much so that they would likely cause a riot or attack you if you attempted to march through the streets promoting things they found disgusting, indecent or immoral. Do you think you should have to pay for special Garda security to protect the parade?

No, because that may be a restraint on free speech.

So the taxpayer would have to just suck it up in that case.

There are gradations on all this.

Personally, I think the banks have a reasonable case. There would be severe damage to the economy if the banks were unable to transfer cash with ease. So it is not only the banks that benefit from cash van guarding.

Not having concerts in Point Theatre because the Harry Crosbie did't want to pay the litter and policing costs would only harm Crosbie (and in tonights case, Diana Ross fans!) so the argument for the Point having free policing is less persuasive, though, I think.