The structure of the Garda Síochána is "outdated and does not conform to best international practice", according to one of two reports published on the force today.
The interim report of the Garda Síochána Advisory Group and the report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate both called for a greater "civilisation" of the force and for the creation of new civil posts at senior levels.
Currently the senior command staff of the Garda Síochána includes the Commissioner, two Deputy Commissioners, 12 Assistant Commissioners and a Director of Finance. Other than the civilian director of finance the others are police officers who have risen through the ranks.
The reports say that while "all have substantial management experience the force would benefit from having more civilian expertise at top level in such areas as Human Resources and IT".
The reports also warned that at present there is a potential risk of "disproportionate emphasis being placed on headquarters and specialised units" to the detriment of uniformed field operations and recommend that the importance of uniformed field operations is properly recognised.
At the launch of the reports tonight, the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said that gardaí are "entitled to the fullest possible range of support".
He said: "They deserve expert civilian support staff and an organisational structure which frees them to use their skill and experience on operational policing duties. These reports are a major step in that direction."
The Tánaiste also said that he believed there would be no "significant resistance" to civilisation within the Garda Síochána among rank and file gardaí.
He said the force is currently in the process of recruiting 29 civilian crime analysts "to beef up the analysis available to the gardaí on the front line".
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy also welcomed the reports saying that they would help "to release our officers".
"I want to see gardaí out in the community patrolling our towns and talking to people in the streets", the Commissioner added.
