Report shows pace of Garda reform too slow
Labour spokesperson on Justice, Seán Sherlock TD, has said the third report by the Policing Authority reinforces the urgent need for speedy reform in An Garda Síochána.
The report raised a number of issues, including that only nine of 50 Garda Inspectorate recommendations Gardaí had claimed had been implemented, were actually in place.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“It’s clear from this report by the Policing Authority that the much needed reform of An Garda Síochána is not moving at the pace it should be.
“While the report isn’t all negative, for example in relation to the establishment of pilot Protective Services units and Victim Services Offices, I am particularly concerned by the discrepancy between the improvements Gardaí maintained they have made, and what the Policing Authority is satisfied they have actually implemented.
“We need a 21st century police force in Ireland to deal with the myriad of issues facing our country.
“I was shocked by figures I received from the Justice Department, which show that more than one in four Garda stations are still not hooked up to the Pulse system.
“That a modern police station could function without being connected to the central nervous system is ridiculous; the modernisation of IT in the Gardaí must be dealt with by the Policing Authority.
“We’ve had controversy after controversy in An Garda Siochána and what is badly needed now is the restoration of public confidence in the force.
“Any practice of falsifying or ‘elevating’ important figures needs to be stamped out completely.
“We have an opportunity now with the pending appointment of a new Garda Commissioner to provide a clean break for the force and the vast majority of men and women in An Garda Siochána who are honest and hardworking.”