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Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
New policing model is ‘unmitigated disaster' breaking links between gardaí and communities, garda bodies warn
They also say that new regulations on conduct and performance will 'do little' to dispel fears among their members over an 'excessive use of discipline and suspension'. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) appeared before the Justice Committee this afternoon to discuss a range of issues including recruitment and retention, pursuit policy, and discipline within the force. A significant emphasis was placed on the new Garda operating policing model which has moved the organisation from a local district model to a larger divisional one. The GRA's General Secretary, Ronan Slevin, described it as an 'unmitigated disaster' which is 'not fit for purpose'. 'This has created super-sized divisions that span across many counties and has starved communities of local stations and local policing. In many ways, division is the key word here as that is exactly what this model has caused between our trusted, dedicated members and the public and communities that they serve,' Mr Slevin said. AGSI General Secretary, Ronan Clogher, told the committee that an overarching problem with the operating model is the issue of resources. He pointed to the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division, saying it is a 'geographical area that is completely unpoliceable' and that it is 'impossible to manage a division of that size' which stretches from Blacksod on the west coast to Granard in Longford. He said that resources are being dragged away from smaller towns to provide cover for main towns that act as satellite hubs for the rest of the division. Mr Clogher added that this is 'breaking a link' between gardaí and the communities they police. 'People do not know their guards, the guards do not know their people'. He also said 'silos' were being created within the force between plain clothed and uniformed personnel and that, for a small police for like the Garda, 'that is a very risky thing to happen, particularly in the rural areas'. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, defended the operating model at the committee last week, saying the old model was unsustainable with changes introduce to 'enhance the service we provide to the public'. Mr Slevin today said that little action is being taken to address the issue of morale while there is ongoing concern about the suspension policy. He added that the excessive use of discipline and suspension has resulted in members being in fear of receiving any form of complaint as there is little trust in the discipline process. He also said that that the recently enacted Conduct, Performance and Standards of Professional Behaviour Regulations 'will do little to dispel this fear'. 'The now infamous bicycle case not only highlighted the excessive use of suspension, but highlights the lack of understanding of how community policing works by senior gardaí. The more recent case in Limerick where a member was cleared of all 22 charges after a near seven-year investigation while languishing on suspension further highlights the fears members face when the perform their duty and complaints and investigations are launched,' Mr Slevin said. There are currently around 90 gardaí suspended for a range of reasons including domestic violence, sexual assault, and drink driving. In relation to garda pursuits, Ronan Slevin said that a recent policy created an issue whereby gardaí can't engage unless they are pursuit trained, but added that there is no pursuit training within An Garda Síochána. 'It leaves our members in the control room and the drivers themselves to make a snap decision on whether you're going to allow a pursuit to continue. 'Your decision is made in a split second and analysed as slowly as possible if there's an error made, and that is causing some serious concern to our members.' He said that if gardaí do not have the power to pursue, then criminals will get away by simply exceeding the speed limit, knowing that the guards can't follow.' The GRA also said that some 17,000 gardaí are needed with the recruitment and retention crisis ongoing for the past five years.
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Policing model ‘an unmitigated disaster and unfit for purpose'
The Operational Policing Model (OPM), in place since 2019, has been an 'unmitigated disaster and is not fit for purpose', the Oireachtas Justice Committee will be told today. The OPM was introduced as part of the Government's reform programme, titled 'A Policing Service for Our Future', which emerged from the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Both the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) will today outline their ongoing opposition to the new model. The general secretary of the GRA, Ronan Slevin, will say: 'The aim of this model was to modernise AGS [An Garda Síochána], by decentralising decision-making, enhancing community engagement, and improving frontline visibility. This has proved to be an unmitigated disaster and is not fit for purpose.' Ronan Slevin, General Secretary. Pic Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos Mr Slevin will add: 'This has created super-sized divisions that span across many counties and has starved communities of local stations and policing. In many ways, division is the key word here, as that is exactly what this model has caused between our trusted, dedicated members and the public and communities that they serve. 'Prior to the implementation of the OPM, Ireland possessed the most desired model of community policing in the policing world. As a result of the OPM, the local garda has been stripped from the community. 'Where previously the majority of incidents in country areas were investigated by the local garda, which resulted in increased local knowledge, now, under the OPM, most incidents, while investigated, are done so by gardaí stationed miles away with little or no knowledge of the community, and no real reason to expand that knowledge.' Pic: Collins Photos The AGSI, will say it is the 'resounding view' of its membership that the OPM has had a 'profoundly negative' effect on policing, and warn that it is 'well known' there is significant public dissatisfaction with the service delivery provided by the gardaí following its introduction. They will say it has been adapted from similar models utilised internationally, but will add that a 'fundamental and fatal flaw' is the architects of the Irish version 'failed to take account' of the unique policing and geographical requirements in this jurisdiction. It will say: 'The AGSI are now of the view the current operating model has negatively affected interactive community policing in this country. 'It is no surprise international police forces have recognised the fundamental flaws with the operating model and are withdrawing from this and returning to more traditional policing models.' The AGSI will acknowledge that there have been some 'positive developments' that have arisen out of the operating model, such as business services hubs, which transfer administration tasks to Garda staff. The association will say: 'The creation of Divisional Protective Service Units has been a very positive development for the organisation. However, this is an initiative that was not reliant on the introduction of the operating model and could have been established under the previous traditional policing model.' On retention, the AGSI will warn 'excessive' oversight and social media are some of the 'causes' affecting Garda morale. The GRA, meanwhile, will say there remains a 'massive issue with morale' with little action taken to address it. It will say that the continuous issuing of policies and procedures that members must comply with, and the excessive use of discipline and suspension, have resulted in members being in fear of receiving any form of complaint, as there is little trust in the discipline process.
The Journal
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Garda group to say that little action has been taken to solve 'massive issue' of poor morale
A 'MASSIVE ISSUE' remains in An Garda Síochána with poor morale and little action has been taken to address the issue, a Garda union will tell politicians today. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) are due to appear before the Oireachtas Justice committee this afternoon. In their opening remarks, the GRA will launch criticise work by the Government to resolve the problems associated with a new policing management system, and claim that overbearing discipline has forced gardaí to be afraid to act. Ronan Slevin, the GRA General Secretary, will tell TDs and Senators that the issues have been long identified, but that no action has been taken to ease them. 'There remains a massive issue with morale within the ranks of An Garda Síochána, with little action being taken to address the issue. 'The continuous issuing of policies and procedures which members must comply with, and the excessive use of discipline and suspension has resulted in members being in fear of receiving any form of complaint as there is little trust in the discipline process. 'Sadly, the recently enacted Conduct, Performance and Standards of Professional Behaviour Regulations will do little to dispel that fear,' he will say. Suspensions Slevin will raise the issue of the suspension of a Garda for giving a bicycle to an elderly man, and that of another garda in Limerick who was suspended for seven years but who was recently been cleared of any wrongdoing. He will say that the bicycle case demonstrates how senior gardaí showed a 'lack of understanding of how community policing works'. Slevin will go on to say that staff retention and recruitment targets are being missed because of a failure to implement measures to stop the issue. 'It was once the situation that the best recruiter for a career in the AGS [An Garda Síochána], were the gardaí themselves. Sadly this is no longer the case. 'Exit interviews carried out by the GRA clearly show serious areas of concern among members who have decided to leave the organisation. Advertisement 'These issues in conjunction with the overall feelings of low morale led recently to a vote of no confidence in the Garda Commissioner. Sadly, little has changed since. Denial of low morale and associated issues continue,' he will say. In its opening remarks, the AGSI will outline failures to address retention and recruitment issues, community policing, road traffic deaths and the new divisional policing model. It will also comment on the problems of keeping gardaí and hiring new recruits. 'An Garda Síochána is now entrenched within a cycle of continuous failures to meet recruitment targets year-on-year. 'This failure has not been sufficiently recognised by Government or Garda management with the Government in recent years attributing this to covid, full employment and lifestyle choices,' the group's opening statement will say. The AGSI will say that there is a broad failure to recognise the actual 'fundamental root causes'. It will also highlight pay and pensions disparity, social media commentary, excessive oversight and bureaucracy, change fatigue, workload and work related stress. It will also cite industrial relations processes for the poor morale among senior gardaí. 'Radical' The AGSI statement will also say that a number of initiatives have been implemented, but that these are 'short remedies' and are not 'radical' enough to solve the problem. It will strongly criticise the Divisional and Operation Model that was introduced recently, stating that it has negatively impacted the Garda's relationship with the public. The model essentially redraws the garda command map across the country, and rather than specific units and areas being led by officers with sole operational command, it places them under an umbrella management system. AGSI will also claim that international police forces who adopted the model previously have scrapped it and moved back to the more traditional command structures. 'The model has been adapted from Similar policing models internationally, but a fundamental and fatal flaw is that the architects of the Irish version failed to take account of the unique policing and geographical requirements within the jurisdiction. 'The AGSI are now of the view that the current operating model has negatively affected interactive community policing in this country,' the AGSI opening statement adds. Commissioner Drew Harris appeared last week at the Justice Committee and defended the model, which was criticised by a number of TDs and senators. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Garda body accuses Drew Harris of leaving 'legacy of fear and distrust' at annual conference
DREW HARRIS HAS been accused of leaving a 'legacy of fear and distrust' among gardaí after his almost seven-year stint in the Garda Commissioner job, according to an officers' body. The Garda Representatives Association (GRA) further accused of Commissioner Drew Harris of dismantling community policing thanks to reforms pushed through during his term overseeing the force. The GRA kicked off its annual conference this week in Killarney, Co Kerry. At the outset it has outlined a belief that the role of a frontline garda has been diminished and degraded, with this year's conference carrying the theme 'It Was a Job Worth Doing'. At the core of its criticism was the Operating Policing Model which was introduced in 2019. This has seen a restructuring at regional and divisional levels, with the ambition having been to improve community policing according to the needs of each local community. But GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris has implemented a model of policing that 'isn't working', claiming that it has 'single handedly removed community policing' from Ireland. The GRA, which represents over 11,000 officers, said that this was because Harris had has tried to implement a 'failed' UK model. 'If you were to analyze the commissioner's term, I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operation policing model that isn't working. He has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe. The system we had, that's completely gone,' Slevin told reporters. 'He's had the biggest budget available to him over his career, over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and retention within the force. 'I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in the force when the Commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially.' Ronan Slevin at today's GRA conference CONOR Ó MEARÁIN CONOR Ó MEARÁIN There is also much anger towards Harris because of a 'severe' discipline and suspension policy, Slevin said, further claiming this has hampered members when using force while policing. He added that the number of gardaí currently serving is roughly the same as when Harris took up his role, despite promises to increase the number of officers. Advertisement Deputy GRA General Secretary James Morrisroe said that community policing is about 'frontline police knowing their communities while being visible and engaged in those communities', which he said allows these gardaí to develop respectful partnerships to solve problems and achieve community safety. 'That is not happening,' Morrisroe said, 'It's plain to see. And I think members of the public tell us on a daily basis, it's not happening.' Quoting the Commission on the Future of Policing , the 2021 report outlining recommendations for the organisation, Morrisroe said that it noted that 'the culture should be one of a team of professionals working together, not a hierarchy where foot soldiers await instructions from above'. Morrisroe added that the report said that communication should be 'personal interaction' and not written documents. 'We see that every single day in an Garda Síochána, where documents are posted on our portal and we're supposed to read them and train up on them. And that is not what the Commission of the Future of Policing recommended,' Morrisroe said. 'Employees should have the tools, training, uniform, vehicles and equipment needed to do their jobs. Well, we don't, so that's a failure.' This was the latest edition of the conference where the Garda Commissioner was not invited. Two years ago, the membership of the association voted overwhelmingly that they had no confidence in Harris and therefore did not invite him to attend. This has seen the new Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan also not attend the annual gathering. Contacted for comment, a Garda spokesperson said on behalf of the commissioner that he was happy to work with the GRA and gardaí on the issues raised. 'As he has done in the past, Commissioner Harris would have been more than happy to attend the GRA conference and engage with GRA delegates on important matters for all Gardaí at the GRA conference, as well as recognise the great work done by Gardaí every day in keeping people safe,' the spokesperson said. 'However, the GRA Central Executive Committee has not invited the Garda Commissioner to address and discuss such matters directly with Gardaí at the GRA's Conference. 'An Garda Síochána continues to meet with all Garda Associations, collectively, and separately on a wide range of issues.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Drew Harris has ‘legacy of fear & mistrust' with rank-and-file gardai as GRA blast top cop for ‘failed' policing model
DREW Harris has left a 'legacy of fear and mistrust' with rank-and-file members, frontline gardai insist. The 2 GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris left 'a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members' Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN And they say he has 'failed' to implement policies recommended by the Commission on Future Policing. The Commissioner will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire. Speaking ahead of the conference kicking off today, GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said: 'If you were to analyse the Commissioner's term I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operational policing model that is not working. Read more in News 'Single-handedly he has removed community policing from Ireland, the system we had, that's completely gone. 'He's had the biggest budget available to him over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and retention within the force. 'I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in force when the Commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially. 'He's responsible for the application of a severe discipline and suspension policy which has hampered our members in utilising or being confident in the use of force when doing their job. Most read in Irish News 'I suppose you could say that he's left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members.' James Morrisroe, the GRA's Deputy General Secretary, insists that the Operating Policing Model is simply not working. 'FAILED UK MODEL' The association, which represents over 11,000 rank and file gardai, want an immediate review of the divisional system which was introduced in 2019. Morrisroe said: 'The operational policing model is a failed 'So, it's based on the commission of future police. And seven years ago, the blueprint going forward, when Commissioner Harris took up his role, was commission of future policing. 'I went through that, and I looked through it, and the operation policing model as it is now is anything but what was recommended in that. HARRIS STATEMENT 'I wonder what the authors of the Commissioner of Future Policing who put a lot of time and effort into it, think of the current system that's in place.' In a statement, Commissioner Harris said: 'Not withstanding the decision of the GRA Central Executive Committee to not invite me to the Annual Delegate Conference, I remain, as always, open to productive and fruitful engagement with all the Staff Associations, particularly at Annual Conferences, which offer an unparalleled opportunity for professional and respectful engagement.' 2 Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire Credit: PA
