Garda Air Support Unit
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Garda Air Support Unit
| nativename =
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| abbreviation = GASU
| patch =
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| logo = Garda Síochána Air Unit emblem.svg
| logocaption = GASU emblem
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| legaljuris = Eastern, Northern, Southern, South-Eastern, Western and Dublin regions
| formedyear = September 1997
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| country = Ireland
| national = yes
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| governingbody = Department of Justice
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| police = Yes
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| headquarters = Casement Aerodrome
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| parentagency = 25px Garda Síochána
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| vehicle1type = Vehicle
| vehicles1 = Britten-Norman Defender
Eurocopter EC135
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File:272 Eurocopter EC135 Helicopter Garda (38109437956).jpg]]
The Garda Air Support Unit (or GASU) is a unit of the Garda Síochána which was formed in 1997.{{cite web|url=http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?page=36|title=Garda Website - Air Support Unit page|quote=The Garda Air Support Unit was established in September 1997|publisher=Garda.ie|accessdate=21 March 2014|archive-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416080503/http://www.garda.ie/controller.aspx?page=36|url-status=live}} The GASU is part of the Operational Support Unit which provides specialist support to Gardaí nationwide. The Operational Support Unit also includes the Water Support, Dog Support and Mounted Support Units.{{cite web|url=http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=35|title=Garda Website - Operational Support Units|publisher=Garda.ie|accessdate=21 March 2014|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322001829/http://www.garda.ie/Controller.aspx?Page=35|url-status=live}}
Between 2007 and 2008, the unit released figures indicating that it had contributed to 1,300 arrests within the preceding three years, and it had located 14 people during search and rescue operations in 2007.{{cite news |url= http://www.irishtimes.com/news/second-garda-helicopter-takes-to-air-1.817268 |publisher= Irish Times |title= Second Garda helicopter takes to air |date= 15 January 2008 |access-date= 22 August 2015 |archive-date= 23 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042600/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/second-garda-helicopter-takes-to-air-1.817268 |url-status= live }}
Aircraft
The GASU's aircraft are maintained and flown by the Irish Air Corps,{{cite web|url=http://www.military.ie/air-corps/fleet/|title=Defence Forces Website - Air Corps - Fleet|publisher=Military.ie|accessdate=21 March 2014|archive-date=23 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223171248/http://www.military.ie/air-corps/fleet|url-status=live}} and based at Casement Aerodrome near Dublin. The unit operates a Britten-Norman BN 2T-4S Defender 4000 aircraft, and two EC 135 T2 helicopters.{{cite web
|url=http://www.military.ie/air-corps/fleet/ec135-t2/
|title=EC135 T2
|publisher=Defence Forces
|accessdate=2017-01-04
|archive-date=2017-04-03
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403002443/http://www.military.ie/air-corps/fleet/ec135-t2
|url-status=live
}}
A Eurocopter AS355N Squirrel helicopter was in use by the unit until January 2008 when it was replaced by a second EC 135 T2.
Mandate
GASU responsibilities include providing an active support role for the Garda Síochána and aircraft may be deployed to incidents in the following circumstances:
- An immediate threat to life.
- Incidents of crime, terrorism or of national importance.
- Immediate threat of serious public disorder.
- A task which will lead to the immediate prevention or detection of crime.
- To gather evidence and to prevent or detect crime or to avert a serious public disorder.
- To gather information on and deal with incidents relating to crime, public disorder and traffic related matters.
- Collecting footage from the air at a major event.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|1=https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/organised-serious-crime/operational-support-services/the-garda-air-support-unit/}}
{{Garda Síochána}}
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