Legislation prohibiting “racial profiling” by gardaí and “vexatious charges” against some minorities have been recommended in a report commissioned and funded by the Policing Authority.
Published on Monday, the study, Experiences of policing among Brazilians and people of African descent in Ireland, finds the communities “lack trust” in gardaí, do not feel taken seriously when reporting crimes and believe police take a “lenient” attitude to racist abuse and attacks.
Responding to the report, An Garda Síochána defended its record on community policing, saying it was “committed to providing a human-rights focused policing service that protects the rights of all people we come into contact with and treats them equally under the law”.
The report was researched and written by academic and human rights commissioner Dr Lucy Michael, director of the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) Shane O’Curry and others.
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African, Brazilian communities ‘lack trust’ in gardaí, believe force takes ‘lenient’ attitude to racist attacks, report says
It draws on data gathered between April 2023 and January of last year from a national online survey of 172 people who identified either as African or of African descent or Brazilian; 30 in-depth interviews with community members; and four focus groups comprising Brazilians in Dublin and a rural area, and Africans and people of African descent in Dublin and another region.
Researchers found the “overall perception of Garda behaviour and attitudes towards minority ethnic communities” was “predominantly negative”.
“[This was] particularly strong among younger individuals and those who have lived in Ireland for a longer period. Africans and African-Irish people showed lower trust and perceived stricter treatment based on ethnicity.”
Both the rural and Dublin African focus groups raised concerns about racial profiling and disproportionate stopping and searching of young black men.
“A young man in the African rural focus group described frequently being stopped and questioned aggressively ... and said that other young men of African background in the town also experience frequent stops.”
Brazilian respondents reported profiling where gardaí assumed they were involved in drug-dealing. Rickshaw and food-delivery drivers said they were “targeted for repeated questioning and drug searches”.
Traffic stops frequently resulted in prosecutions even where individuals had valid documents.
“Albert (African-Irish, male, 30s) described occasions of being issued a fine for not having road tax or insurance, despite both being in order during the stop.”
Groups said they felt they were not believed or taken as seriously by gardaí when reporting crimes, including domestic violence and assault, as an white Irish victim would be.
They felt racist abuse was not treated seriously, while authors also found “evidence of mistreatment including racial abuse” by gardaí.
Mr O’Curry said the findings were “consistent with what the international literature says about minoritised groups’ experiences of policing”.
The growth of African and Brazilian communities, combined with their socio-economic challenges, “underscores the urgent need to address these issues to ensure equitable treatment and protection under the law”, say the authors.
Among other recommendations are that the force “review stop-and-search and other operations” to ensure no racial bias in their operation, and that the satisfaction of migrant and minority ethnic groups in policing be monitored.
“The interim report was reviewed by staff of the Policing Authority and recommendations received in relation to ... explanatory text, legislative references, clarity for non-expert readers and presentation of data,” says the report.
“No recommendations were made regarding the inclusion or exclusion of research findings or recommendations,” it states.
However, it notes: “The views expressed in this report are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Policing Authority.”
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said the allegation of racial profiling by its members “is a very serious one” and the Garda “would ask any representative group claiming such or the individuals themselves to bring any allegations about this to either our attention or the attention of GSOC [Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission] so they can be examined”.
It said: “Constitutional and human rights are already at the centre of the Garda Decision Making Model. The Garda Code of Ethics clearly states that policing must be carried out in a manner that is independent and impartial, that respects human rights, and that supports the proper and effective administration of justice.
“As part of a range of measures to embed human rights, in conjunction with the University of Limerick, An Garda Síochána has introduced a human rights and policing course that has been undertaken by more than 3,000 Garda personnel to date with 1,000 more to take it this year.
“An Garda Síochána has developed and maintains good relationships with minority communities including those referenced in this report.
“Any issues identified are examined and addressed as required to ensure we continue to build and maintain trust with these communities.”
It added: “An Garda Síochána cannot comment on incidents with individual members of the public. But if any member of the public is not happy with how they have been treated by Gardaí then they should complain to An Garda Síochána or the independent GSOC so the matter can be thoroughly examined.
“As there is no legal basis for the collection of ethnic identifiers during Garda operations, there is no concrete data available to support the contention that there is ethnic profiling by An Garda Síochána.
“An Garda Síochána is in favour of being able to collect such data and has explored this issue. However, our legal advice is that legislation is required for any State body to collect such data.”
