Solution to this crisis won't be found in sunny California

Commissioner O'Sullivan will come under massive pressure in the coming weeks and the solution to the myriad of problems facing An Garda Síochána aren’t to be found in San Diego. Photo: Frank McGrath

Cormac McQuinn Twitter

October 20 2016 02:30 AM

You phone up a garda station to report a crime. Obviously you know that how the gardaí respond depends on the seriousness of the offence.

But you trust that, at the very least - even if the station is particularly busy when you called - the offence will be recorded.

You - as a victim of crime - can expect to get a follow-up call from the investigating Garda. Right? Wrong.

According to the Garda Inspectorate, it's entirely possible that no record will ever be made of your complaint.

Deputy chief inspector Mark Toland says stations have been found that don't have "a book or computer system to record the fact a member of the public has rung up to say 'I've been a victim of an assault'". He said the non-reporting of crimes on the Garda's Pulse system "is a real worry".

In fact it's appalling and it was just one of the serious concerns raised at the Oireachtas justice committee. Not reporting offences skews the crime statistics to the point that management don't know how busy gardaí really are, and how many are needed to keep communities safe.

We also heard that gardaí are using "woefully" out of date technology and rural Ireland has a dearth of community gardaí. The testimony of the Garda Inspectorate drew on a series of reports they've drawn up over almost a decade.

In that sense it's not the first time we've heard many of these concerns. But what was so shocking about yesterday's briefing to the committee was the bundling together of An Garda Síochána's long litany of operational shortcomings.

Failings that the Inspectorate pointed out they have repeatedly raised, with many of their recommendations yet to be implemented. It was shocking even without the committee raising the issue of the various Garda whistleblower scandals at any great length.

Given what we've learned about the challenges facing gardaí in their daily jobs, is it any wonder that they are poised to take unprecedented industrial action in the coming weeks - quite aside from their pay demands.

Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has made great play of the reform process she's begun in An Garda Síochána.

The Inspectorate did acknowledge the ambition of this process and investment in technology coming down the line. But it's just a week since Ms O'Sullivan appeared before those same TDs and Senators and defended herself amid the avalanche of controversies that beset the force.

Somewhat unbelievably, she was at a conference in California yesterday while the inadequacies of her organisation were laid bare. She will come under massive pressure in the coming weeks and the solution to the myriad of problems facing An Garda Síochána aren't to be found in San Diego.

Solution to this crisis won't be found in sunny California

Daily Digest Newsletter

Most Watched

Cars submerged in water amid traffic chaos on Inch beach over weekend

Video captures intense display of lightning over Waterford

On This Day In History - August 15th

Woman narrowly avoids being crushed by a rolling tyre

Crowd of young fans mob David Clifford after Kerry championship match

Latest Analysis

Most Read

Latest