Sir, – The Garda Síochána strength is 14,125 members, but the real figure of available police personnel is much, much smaller than that because there are those Garda members not available for frontline duties for myriad reasons: for example, Garda office staff, scene of crime examiners, members on maternity or paternity leave, secondments overseas in the UN, Interpol, Europol, liaison officers, and those on career breaks, etc.
The attempts by the Government to recruit 1,000 gardaí over these past few years have failed, and failed miserably, due to the lack of financial and pension incentives, strict disciplinary oversight, increasing violence and disorder toward frontline Garda members, little or no support from senior officers and some in middle management and, most importantly, a poor work-life balance.
While 432 completed training and 468 commenced training, 374 gardaí retired or resigned, which left a net increase of 84 gardaí.
The problem, as I see it, is the new training regime. It is too far removed from the realities of policing.
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If we want to see an increase that can be sustained, then the training concept has to change, as well as its location, to large urban areas, with an emphasis, not on compiling manuals in order obtain a degree or diploma in policing, but one that is pragmatic and practical that allows candidates or recruits to be able to engage fully with the public, where common sense prevails, with a reasonable knowledge of the law.
I have always believed in the concept of community policing as the cornerstone of policing in this State, unlike other jurisdictions, but present policies and restrictions and overt influence from non-police personnel and academics, and recruited foreign police personnel, who do not understand the Garda Síochána’s historical role in community policing, have created the vacuum that we see today.
Until we right the wrongs of this past decade of recruitment and retention, and stop pandering to those who have never donned the uniform or risked their lives in order to save others, then we will never get back to what was a community orientated and inclusive force, one that was part of the people, and one that was visible in every town, city, village, and rural area in this State. – Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
(Retired Garda Sergeant),
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.