Professional Standards Unit for An Garda Siochana announced

Sparks

From the DoJ website, something which may prove useful to those few who are encountering undue difficulties with licencing applications:

Minister McDowell announces Professional Standards Unit for An Garda Siochana

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael McDowell, T.D., today announced that the Government has recently approved the establishment of a Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) in An Garda Siochana.

The Minister said that "The establishment of this Unit is a key part of the ongoing reform of An Garda Siochana under the Act. The GPSU will enable An Garda Siochana to ensure that organisational efforts and initiatives are driven strategically and that value for money and international best practise in professional, ethical and human rights standards are maintained."

Section 24 of the Garda Siochana Act, 2005 provides for the establishment of a Professional Standards Unit within An Garda Siochana which will have responsibilities for addressing performance, effectiveness and efficiency across all levels of policing activity. The Act sets out the following specific responsibilities for the Unit:

* the maintenance, development and promotion of professional standards in keeping with best international practice;
* the monitoring and assessment of the performance (operational, administrative and managerial) of An Garda Siochana;
* the formulation of proposals for performance management and improvement.

In developing the Unit, Garda management reviewed comparable arrangements in police forces in the UK, Canada and Australia with a view to determining best practice in the area. The GPSU will be a key modernising tool and driver of enhanced Garda performance and accountability. A critical factor will be its ability to produce reliable, verifiable and non-anecdotal evidence of Garda standards and performance and to make firm and appropriate recommendations for improvement where necessary. It will ensure consistency, cohesion and credibility in how An Garda Siochana measures and monitors performance and publicly verifies its standards.

The Government has approved the necessary amendment to the Garda Siochana (Ranks) Order to allow for the establishment and operation of the Unit which will have a staff of 20 consisting of a mix of relevantly qualified and experienced Garda and civilian staff. Nine additional Gardai consisting of one Chief Superintendent, two Superintendents, two Inspectors and four Sergeants has been sanctioned by Government.

The activities of the Professional Standards Unit will complement the Garda Inspectorate which will shortly be established under another provision of the Garda Act.

The Inspectorate will operate independently of An Garda Siochana and will report directly to the Minister. The objective of the Inspectorate is to ensure that the resources available to An Garda Siochana are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its operation and administration, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services. A recruitment process is currently underway for the selection of a Chief Inspector for the Garda Inspectorate.

The Minister concluded by saying: "The establishment of this Professional Standards Unit and the Garda Inspectorate are practical examples of the Government's determination to support An Garda Siochana in their efforts to meet the challenges of enhanced professionalism, performance and accountability."

Dvs

Hello All,
I don't suppose this would be retroactive?

It would be nice to think that a certain few Garda Superintendents,
might be brought to book for their un-professional approach to and treatment of law abiding shooters applying for firearms licenses etc....

Just one concern, how can this inspectorate be seen as,
seperate from An Garda Siochana, if it is made up from the ranks of,
An Garda Siochana ?

The officers of the inspectorate may very well be able to carry out their dutys in a unbiased and professional manner, but it is going to be open to claims of cronyism, which would undermine it's function.


Dvs.