Demand for City Status for Rapidly Expanding Irish Town Following Significant Police Crime Crackdown

The Drogheda City Status Group is campaigning for city status for Drogheda, a town in Co Louth, Ireland, that has experienced high rates of crime and violence in recent years. With a population of 67,000 people, the group is calling on the government to recognise it as a city. The campaign is led by local residents from the business, entertainment, education and hotel sectors, with Anna McKenna stating that the campaign is “about us having a city that we can be proud of”. The group hopes that recognition as a city will bring greater resources and infrastructure to match the growth that the area has experienced over the past few years. The group’s statistics show that there has been a 38% growth rate in south Drogheda, with a total population of 20,000 new people projected to move to the area in the next three years. The Drogheda City Status Group argues that city status could help to improve tourism, the entertainment industry and other sectors in the area. While Drogheda was previously associated with high rates of crime, Chief Supt Alan McGovern has voiced his support for the campaign, stating that the police recognise the growing population in the area and the impact it could have on policing. The Drogheda City Status Group is due to present its findings to local stakeholders over the coming weeks.