Oughterard native Michel Walsh retired from an Garda Síochána earlier this August after 31 years of service.
Michael explained to the Irish Independent that his career started in 1993, as he applied to become a Garda during his Leaving Cert year.
“I applied to the Gardaí during my Leaving Cert year, as many as my colleagues and classmates did, and I was successful through the application process. So on May 1 1993 I went to the Garda College in Templemore, where I started my student training,” he said.
Then, he first started working in Dublin and after taking different roles in the capital and after becoming a trainer at the Garda College, Michael moved back to his native Galway and later took the role of Crime Prevention Officer in 2018.
The 51-year-old described his three decades in an Garda Síochána as “exciting” as he said he “really enjoyed” his job and helping people.
Michael said: “I enjoyed it, it’s been a great 31 years, really varied. You’re always working with people, which I like.
“No two days were ever going to be the same. You’re working shifts, nights, days, weekends. You’re dealing with people in their most vulnerable states, being victims of crime, you’re dealing with major events, you’re meeting VIPs, you’re dealing with so many different things, you’re never going in to work knowing what’s going to happen next.”
“It was a really varied and exciting role. I can say I really enjoyed it. And I can say I learnt so much, so many skills down to the years that prepared me now to move to the next stage of my life.”
“The main thing I’ll miss is my colleagues, the people I worked with for so many years,” he added.
Michael explained he became very passionate about crime prevention, which is why he decided to open his own business.
“I didn’t have to retire, I could have stayed in that role, but I saw that there was an opportunity to promote crime prevention to a greater extend, to a greater level.”
With his business, named BuildSecure, Michael said he can help reducing crime by designing safer places, estates and developments.
He said: “Crime prevention is something I’m very passionate about. I think we can promote crime prevention, and we can create safer place to work and live, especially for more vulnerable people.”
“We can look at where houses or developments are being built, and we can design out crime, make them safer buildings before they’re ever built by looking at the design, the planning stage, and having an input there.
“I’ve already had focus groups and engagement groups with architects and land development agencies, and many other public sector bodies around designing out crime and they are almost shocked that we’re not doing it already.”
Michael explained he took inspiration from what the police in the UK started doing about 35 years ago using CPTED, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.
“Over the 35 years in the UK they reduced burglary by 89% by implementing these design features in the buildings.
“So over time, over the foreseeable future, there is going to be so many new houses built, it really makes sense to try and build them with security and safety in mind.”