More than 85 per cent of gardai believe there is a need for further training to help them with multiethnic policing. More than 72 per cent say it would assist their work if information in different languages was provided at Garda stations, a conference in Wicklow was told yesterday.
Sgt David Walsh, who has just completed a masters degree in racial studies at Trinity College, was speaking at the start of a three-day conference organised by the Garda. His findings are part of his thesis, "Policing Multi-culturalism". The conference, "Providing a Police Force in a Developing Multi-Ethnic and Multi-Cultural Ireland", is funded by the EU and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Over the next two days it will hear addresses from members of the Metropolitan Police in London and the German police. Yesterday it was addressed by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and Mr John O'Neill of the Irish Refugee Agency.
Sgt Walsh said the recent arrival of asylum-seekers and refugees "seems to have acted as a catalyst for the opening of a debate on what exactly it means to be a multi-ethnic society. The Garda Siochana is anxious to approach this new policing challenge in a pro-active sense and to ensure the provision of a quality service." Looking at how gardai were perceived by ethnic minorities, he said some of his respondents said they "could be reluctant to approach police in this country, not because of any negative experience here but because of experiences in their country of origin.
"This finding provides an opportunity . . . to ensure that in training and policing these fears are taken into account," he said.
Referring to the perception of some sections of society of ethnic minorities, Sgt Walsh said most members of the Garda indicated they did not feel ethnic minority communities were responsible for any higher levels of crime than the native population.
He also looked at the effect of `'culture shock" and the importance for both the Garda and the ethnic groups to learn about each other's cultural nuances.
Although Garda training at Templemore had always included an element of training around minority issues, "it has not been as comprehensive as it could be now", he told The Irish Times.
"Our relationship with ethnic minorities is evolving," he said, "and I think the very fact that this conference is being held today is an indication of the guards' commitment to addressing the issues."
The initiative for the conference came from within the Garda about a year ago. It is the first step in looking at multi-cultural policing. There will be two programmes of field trips in May, to Germany, the UK and France to look at how other police forces provide a service in a multi-ethnic context. Consultation with ethnic minorities will take place in the future, according to the conference host, Chief Supt Patrick Cregg.
The ethnic minority issue is not a "problem", he said.
"It's not there at the moment, but the safest assumption to work on is that `racial tension and problems around race in policing' could happen in Ireland."
A report would be presented to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, with recommendations and policy options, by the end of the summer, he said.
