Devolution to Garda regions urged

Greater devolution of decision-making to regional Garda forces and greater visibility in policing are recommended in the latest report from the Garda Inspectorate.

Community policing should be at the core of Garda work, the report says, and greater visibility should be achieved by channelling more gardaí into flexi-shifts in urban areas, reducing Garda time spent in court and shedding non-core police duties.

Accountability should be devolved to the six Garda regions, each headed by assistant commissioners, who would be made fully responsible for all aspects of policing in their areas. Each region should publish annual policing plans and report annually on performance.

Neighbouring rural stations should pool their personnel and should be allowed additional shared resources, the report also suggests.

Meanwhile, Garda headquarters should operate as a corporate head office, setting targets and monitoring compliance.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan welcomed the report and said that the programme of change within the Garda would continue apace.

The head of the Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O'Toole, acknowledged the extent of change already taking place in the force but said that further structural, operational and administrative reforms were needed to bring it into line with international best practice.

Ms O'Toole, a former Boston police commissioner, said she was very impressed with the level of co-operation she had received since she took up the post last year.

"The gardaí are very receptive to outside influence. We expected far more resistance, but there is a real willingness within the organisation to embrace change," she said.

The report says that trust and confidence in the Garda have been shaken in recent years by the findings of the Morris tribunal, but it notes that disciplinary action has been taken and a Garda Ombudsman appointed.

"While these measures represent a significant response, there is no room for complacency. The Garda Síochána must strive continuously to maintain the confidence of the community."

With a €1.4 billion budget and 15,000 employees, the force had to be like a business, she said. She expressed delight that a new chief administrative office of the Garda was starting work this week.

According to the report, the Garda must have transport, accommodation and procurement strategies to support personnel, particularly those in front-line policing.

Noting that there are 408 gardaí in 300 stations with no assigned vehicles, it says that there is significant scope for increasing the proportion of marked vehicle in the Garda fleet.

Responsibility for the transfer of remand prisoners between prisons and court should be transferred to the Prison Service.

Ms O'Toole pointed out that only 10 per cent of Garda staff are civilians, compared to 40 per cent in the UK.

Fine Gael justice spokesman Charles Flanagan said the Garda Inspectorate's report proved that criminal gangs were better equipped than the national police force.

"Government ministers have claimed on numerous occasions that resourcing is not an issue for the gardaí," he said.

"The Garda Inspectorate report, by highlighting the poor state of many stations and the lack of access of many gardaí to Garda vehicles, has shown conclusively that this is not the case."