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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.
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
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
O'Brien and Slevin combine for 271-1 double
The Newmarket 2000 Guineas may be foremost on the mind of Joseph O'Brien, with Scorthy Champ a leading contender for Classic honours on Saturday afternoon at Newmarket, but there was business to be tended to at Punchestown, and he and JJ Slevin delivered a 271-1 double. Busselton was first up, in the Mongey Communication La Touche Cup, and in a finish involving two former Kerry National winners, he responded well to Slevin's encouragement to fend off the determined Desertmore House. A race of tradition, which holds a special place in the hearts of the National Hunt community, it meant the world to Slevin to win the race as his father, Shay, won it as trainer of Treo Eile in 2017. It was a much-coveted but delayed success for the rider, who would have ridden 2019 winner Ballyboker Bridge but for sustaining a serious injury in the opening race of that day. 'I've been watching these races for as long as I can remember and it's special to win it,' said the rider. 'I was worried when I saw Desertmore House coming to the last, because I knew how well he had schooled for Martin (Brassil, trainer). They are two good horses to run in a banks race and this is a special race to win. 'It's great to see all the big trainers supporting it and there is a high-quality horse going into it nowadays. You have to jump well and have a bit of ability to win them now.' The O'Brien-Slevin double came up in the listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle, in which 33-1 chance Cottesloe Sunshine raced home clear of the fast-finishing Mozzies Sister, with favourite Sixandahalf in third. Recently crowned British champion jumps jockey Sean Bowen was class personified aboard Putapoundinthejar in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle. We're used to seeing Tony Martin-trained runners being delivered late, but this was a masterclass. Bowen didn't panic as Battle Of Ridgeway made the best of his way home before the final turn and, after being forced to switch from the rails to five-wide, he engaged top gear and collared the clear leader just strides before the line. Jonjo and AJ O'Neill combined with Richie McLernon to take the Frontline Security Handicap Chase with the JP McManus-owned Petit Tonnere. Late to make his challenge, he collared Dont Go Yet in the closing stages, with the gambled-on Mirazur West in third, having tried to make all the running. Jody McGarvey, who rode the third-placed horse, announced his retirement after the event, calling time on a career which yielded four Grade One successes, the first of which was at this meeting in 2017 when he rode the talented but free-going Great Field to victory in the Ryanair Novice Chase. 'I thought I was going to have the fairytale ending but those two feckers in front of me (Richie McLernon and Philip Donovan) spoiled the party. Look, I still led them all down over the final fence at the Punchestown Festival on my final ride, riding for JP McManus. It was great to do that after riding my first winner for JP too. 'I have a lot to be thankful for. I had my share of injuries, but I got through it and I'm able to retire on my own terms. I've enjoyed it. 'I could have kept going for another couple of years — I didn't want to stop riding — but the opportunities are just getting thin on the ground, and I want to go out while I'm still feeling like I'm riding well. I've ridden a few winners in the last few weeks and enjoyed it. I'm glad that I'm leaving the game without a chip on my shoulder.' Nicky Henderson provided the first two home in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle, but it was a reverse of the finishing order in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham as Jeriko Du Reponet turned around the form with stablemate Doddiethegreat. For rider James Bowen, it was a first in this country, and it completed a family double, his brother Sean's having taken the opener. Alan King saddled a third British-based winner for the day and sixth of the meeting to date when Baron Noir, ridden by Rob James, came home best of all to win the bumper, doing so at the expense of fellow raider El Cairos, who drifted left under pressure in the final furlong.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Garda union boss slams Commissioner Drew Harris over 'legacy of fear & mistrust'
The leading Garda union has slammed Commissioner Drew Harris' legacy on the force - just months before he steps down. 'I suppose you could say that he's left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members,' Garda Representative Association (GRA) General Secretary Ronan Slevin said on Monday evening. Mr Slevin was speaking at the opening of the 11,200-strong organisation's annual conference, being held over three days in Killarney, Co Kerry. The conference also heard calls for trainee gardai to have their pay almost doubled. Mr Slevin made his comments about the Commissioner as Mr Harris, who has been at the helm of the force since September 2018, prepares to retire later this year. He had been due to retire in June, but the government has asked him to stay on until September - so it can find a replacement. But his relations with the GRA - which represents members of Garda rank in the 14,000-strong force - have deteriorated in recent years and he was not invited to this year's conference. The same thing happened last year - following an almost unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr Harris by GRA members in September 2023. Now, with Mr Harris' tenure coming to an end, the GRA leadership pulled no punches when asked what his legacy would be. And Mr Slevin highlighted the Commissioner's introduction of the so-called Operating Policing Model. That is aimed at making the force more modern - but garda associations are opposed to it as they claim it damages community links. When asked what Commissioner Harris' legacy would be, Mr Slevin said: 'If you were to analyse the commissioner's term, I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operation policing model that isn't working. "(It) single handedly has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe. The system we had, that's completely gone.' And he also criticised him for not increasing Garda numbers - and not persuading serving officers to stay in the job. He said: '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 attention 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 being confident in the use of force when doing their job. 'And I suppose you could say that he's left the legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members.' Mr Slevin also said the next Commissioner - set to be announced by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan in July - had work to do to rebuild officers' confidence. He said: "We have a long list of issues and concerns that started quite a number of years ago, and we have been endeavouring over those years trying to consult and negotiate with the Commissioner on those. That never happened. 'I think that any new incoming commissioner has to initially address the concerns that the members have on the ground. 'There is a serious recruitment problem. It is well documented at this stage, and there's a serious retention problem, and the new commissioner can address the retention issue nearly immediately, removing some of the bureaucracy that's required on a daily basis, supporting the members on the front line. The policing model isn't working. 'Instead of following the government plan, the commissioner has to independently assess the policing plan that's out there and adapt the plan to ensure that the public get the best service that they require, while also listening to the members on ground. 'We're the experts, we're the ones that are enforcing the law every day of the week, and we're the ones that are encountering the problems, and it seems to be a blockage with those issues going up to the current Commissioner.' He also repeated fears raised by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors earlier this month that the number of officers who can retire in the coming years could lead to an exodus from the force. He said: 'I can see an accelerated rate of retirements now that we have members coming to 30 year service. 'There's a glut of members that will come to that service within the next two or three years, we'll be talking close on three or 4000 members will be eligible to retire in total. 'And if those issues aren't addressed, I could see the numbers dip well below 14,000 and then there will be serious issues.' Meanwhile GRA President Mark O'Meara has called for the allowance paid to trainee gardai to be almost doubled. Trainees are currently paid €350 a week - but the GRA wants that hiked to €670 a week. Mr O'Meara said: 'It has to be addressed, and has to be addressed now. 'It has to happen. End of story. 'We can have sound bites that are going to fill headlines, but that's not going to fill garda stations. 'It's not going to put boots and men and women on men and women on the streets to enforce police - we're seeing that. 'They just have to do it. It's not a choice. If you want to take this seriously and to solve the issue, then you have to resource it - it costs money.' We have asked An Garda Siochana and the Department of Justice for comment.
Irish Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Outgoing Garda Commissioner's legacy one of ‘mistrust and fear', says GRA head
Drew Harris will leave a legacy of 'mistrust and fear' in An Garda Síochána when he retires as commissioner later this year, according to the head of Garda Representative Association (GRA). The GRA's general secretary Ronan Slevin made the remarks at the beginning of the association's annual conference in Killarney which is expected to hear strong criticism of Mr Harris's policies, particularly the implementation of a new Garda operating model. For the second year in a row, the GRA, which represents 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí, has opted not to invite Mr Harris to address the conference in protest over his policies. As a result Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan declined an invitation to attend. Asked what legacy Mr Harris will leave when he steps down in September, Mr Slevin said his policies had 'single-handedly removed community policing from Ireland, a policy which was the envy of Europe'. READ MORE [ Gardaí must be given State financial assistance to purchase homes, officers to say Opens in new window ] During his term, the commissioner had the biggest Garda budget in history but serious issues still remained around recruitment and retention, Mr Slevin said, adding that garda numbers have remained stagnant at 14,000 while the population has grown by about half a million in the last decade. Mr Slevin also pointed to Mr Harris's 'severe discipline and suspension policy' which he alleged has hampered garda members' confidence in their ability to use force. 'I suppose you could say that he's left the legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members,' he said. Deputy general secretary James Morrisroe said the new policing model, which has involved the amalgamation of smaller Garda districts in a bid to increase efficiency, has failed. He said the Scottish police has given up on a similar policy and gone back to an approach focused on community policing. The operational policing model was introduced on the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in its 2017 report. Mr Morrisroe said in reality, the model bears little resemble to the commission's recommendations. [The commissioner] fails to take anything on board,' Mr Morrisroe said. 'Everyone is telling him it's not working but he fails to review it.' On Monday, Garda Headquarters issued a statement which it said would have formed the basis of Mr Harris's speech had he been invited to the conference. Mr Harris laid out a number of achievements over the last year including tougher sentences for people who assault gardaí, a new roster agreed following extensive negotiations with the GRA and new vehicles and non-lethal equipment for members. He also cited the roll-out of body cameras to 700 gardaí as part of a pilot programme and the raising of the retirement age to 62. '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,' the commissioner said.
