A new protective services unit officially opened in Kilkenny Garda station this morning.
Two sergeants and 10 gardaí have been assigned to the project which will serve the entire Kilkenny-Carlow Garda division.
It went live back in January as one of six around the country and local members of the force have undergone specialist training.
It will handle particularly sensitive matters like domestic abuse and sexual assaults.
KCLR News was at the launch – listen back to some we spoke to here: