On the beat with Store Street gardai - 'We're busy from morning till night, there's rarely a break here'

"The 'Irish Independent' spends a night on patrol with the busiest garda station in the country as brave members of force face violence and abuse - and it's worse at Christmas"

"Arriving at Store Street garda station just after 8pm, the first thing that greets is the thud of a detainee banging against the cell door."

"Nine detainees, plus one in the juvenile cell, are currently in garda custody."

Store Street garda station is the busiest in the country. Patrol arrival just after 8pm is met by the thud of a detainee banging against a cell door. Nine detainees, plus one in the juvenile cell, are in garda custody. Members of the force face violence and abuse during night shifts. Violence and abuse escalate during the Christmas period. High detainee numbers and disturbances create pressure on staff and custody facilities. Night patrols manage frequent confrontations, custody processing, and the physical and emotional strain of repeated exposure to abuse and aggression.

Read at Independent