Respect for AGS

Lovelyjaws

Do members of AGS feel that respect for AGS and the uniform has declined significantly in the last 5/10 years? How common is it for a member to be assaulted while on duty?

Hooch

Lovelyjaws wrote: »

Do members of AGS feel that respect for AGS and the uniform has declined significantly in the last 5/10 years? How common is it for a member to be assaulted while on duty?

Every day

Turner

If we put ourselves in certain positions, yes we would be assaulted and i mean seriously assaulted every day.

However with pepper spray i fell so much better equiped to deal with drugged up individuals intent on attacking us.

Lovelyjaws

Are there any official stats on attacks on members? I assume most attacks are drug and alcohol related. Have you used your pepper spray yet Chief? Do you think the threat of using pepper spray is a deterrent in itself?

kravmaga

All that info would be in the Garda Annual Report which you can get from the Government Publications Office in Molesworth Street.

Plus all you have to do is look in the daily newspapers.

I think AGS should have been issued with CS Gas cannister instead of the Pepper spray, like Police Forces in the UK were issued way back in 2003.

ste88m

That report isn't accurate at all though. Some gardaí are assaulted and just don't bother reporting it unless it's major.

With regards to CS over OC, I disagree. I much prefer the OC/ Pepper Spray as it's natural, compared to CS which is a chemical substance.

It's a nice piece of kit to have as it fills the gap left between your ASP and your hands.

I'd definitly say even just producing it and shouting your warning, "Garda, Police, with Pepper Spray, STEP BACK!" is a deterrent in itself.

eroo

On average, 2 Gardai are assaulted every day.

the locust

ste88m wrote: »

That report isn't accurate at all though. Some gardaí are assaulted and just don't bother reporting it unless it's major.

I've been punched and kicked a load of times, so have my colleagues - i personally have never reported it cause it didn't seem like that big of a deal and i really couldn't be bothered. I arrested those people and they have all been up in front of a judge - like its been said unless it was something serious i dont report it, its just the nature of the work.

ste88m

the locust wrote: »

I've been punched and kicked a load of times, so have my colleagues - i personally have never reported it cause it didn't seem like that big of a deal and i really couldn't be bothered. I arrested those people and they have all been up in front of a judge - like its been said unless it was something serious i dont report it, its just the nature of the work.

Exactly, same with myself and nearly every other Garda I can think of.
2 a day is nowhere near accurate. I'd say at least 5 times that, and that's being optimistic.

I would report it though if I produced the ASP or OC, to back my report up, the rest of them time, I don't see a point.

Irish_polizei

It never really happens to me often, only ever happend once when i was still a probationer, needless to say i am 6ft 5,:P.

Irish_polizei

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15GYKhauaYM

Lovelyjaws

the locust wrote: »

I've been punched and kicked a load of times, so have my colleagues - i personally have never reported it cause it didn't seem like that big of a deal and i really couldn't be bothered. I arrested those people and they have all been up in front of a judge - like its been said unless it was something serious i dont report it, its just the nature of the work.

I assume you charge these 'people' with assault on a Garda as well as their original offence? What constitutes a serious assault?

Zambia

Irish_polizei wrote:

Knife clip

Jesus over here that "Gentleman" would be shot.

The first step forward with the knife would have justified the action without question.

Well done.

Davidth88

nice guy always wrote: »

Every day

Good lord !

I have always thought you guys do a job that most of us ( non law enforcement ) would blanch at, you are after all dealing with the people we tend to cross the street to avoid . I am surprised that you have to deal with that level of violence .

Good luck ..........

Out of interest , how do you think the general ' law abiding ' public who are going about their daily legit lives percive you ?

uberwolf

Davidth88 wrote: »

Out of interest , how do you think the general ' law abiding ' public who are going about their daily legit lives percive you ?

I always feel inclined to greet a Garda, or at least acknowledge them somehow.

A few weeks back there was a lone Garda arresting some chap on Thomas st, with all his buddies watching. I stopped and waited for his back up to arrive (didn't make it obvious). They're doing a tough job and I'm reminded of it everytime I see one.

Jawgap

Lovelyjaws wrote: »

Do members of AGS feel that respect for AGS and the uniform has declined significantly in the last 5/10 years? How common is it for a member to be assaulted while on duty?

I've a couple of relatives who are members and between the two of them they've taken their fair share of lumps. There will always be a minority in any society who'll be willing to take on authority and confront it with physical violence - that type of disrespect will never be eliminated.

If I was a Guard I'd be more worried about losing the respect of sections of society who have previously admired the force. That's something AGS could do something about if only they were that way inclined.

sf94

Hopefully with the introduction of pepper spray we'll see a decrease in the assaults on members.

Just something else kind of related that I wondered about. I've read and heard a few stories about people trying to intimidate gardai off duty....following a garda home from the station after a shift etc and I read about one guard who had a bullet posted in her letter box as a warning. I was just wondering how common is this sort of thing?
I'd imagine its not nice knowing certain undesirables know where you live ......