Big drop in number of complaints about gardai

The number of complaints made against gardaí dropped to 1,175 last year, the lowest level since 1995, according to the annual report of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board.

However, while the board submitted 196 complaints to the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2003, prosecution proceedings were instigated in just one case, against two members of the force.

The number of complaints fell by 230 compared with 2002, when the highest ever amount was received, mainly because of accusations of Garda wrong-doing during the Reclaim The Streets march on May Day.

The board's chairman, Mr Gordon Holmes, described as "most welcoming" the falling number of complaints.

Last year, the board adjudicated on 774 complaints.

In 457 of these the board concluded that the gardaí involved had not breached discipline.

In respect of 27 cases, it decided a suspected breach of discipline may have occurred. Of these, 13 were referred to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, and the remaining 14 were referred to an internal Garda disciplinary tribunal.

In a further 25 cases no action was taken because of a failure to identify the garda allegedly involved, and some 265 other complaints were withdrawn.

Mr Holmes noted in the report that the board's operations continue to be hampered by delays on the part of some gardaí.

"It is totally unacceptable to the board that at the end of the year 2003 there were 21 complaints dating from 2001 in respect of which reports [from investigating gardaí] had not yet been received.

"In another case no fewer than nine letters had been written by the board to an investigating officer to obtain his report, which by year-end had not been received."

However, he said the mooted Garda Ombudsman, which will replace the complaints board, "should give the public a complaints investigation service that is far more satisfactory than the current model".

Much recent media criticism of the Garda had been undeserved. Many people who were intoxicated when arrested later discovered they had sustained injuries and blamed gardaí for this. However, "very often" the injuries occurred in fights before gardaí arrived on a scene.

He was also critical of some gardaí against whom complaints are made and who are unwilling to resolve the matter informally. "In other jurisdictions, notably the UK and Northern Ireland, informal resolution resolves a high percentage of complaints made - and resolves them to the satisfaction of both the complainant and the member concerned."