How do i get Garda Records changed?

jedbartlet

Does anyone know the procedure to have information / data that is held on the Garda system changed or deleted? If there is information held on the system following a malicious and unfounded complaint that lead to no action being taken by the Garda or DPP how do you go about having that information removed from the records.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Locust

You can write letters to the Data Protection people but I think that information will be on the system for good.

Police need to keep a record of these things, they wouldn't be doing thier job other wise.

If nothing came of it - no action taken and it was unfounded i'm sure thats on there too. Its not a previous conviction or anything.

jedbartlet

Needless to say my concern is that this record would come to light should I ever have the need to be Garda vetted for what ever reason. I have never been convicted of a criminal offence. And the information on the Garda records system is over ten years old. I have full faith in the Garda to put something on the record, but my faith in them up-dating it to prove innocence is not so convincing.

Its surly not right that anyone can make a complaint about an individual, malicious or otherwise and it will go on a permanent Garda database just like that!

cushtac

jedbartlet wrote: »

Needless to say my concern is that this record would come to light should I ever have the need to be Garda vetted for what ever reason. I have never been convicted of a criminal offence. And the information on the Garda records system is over ten years old. I have full faith in the Garda to put something on the record, but my faith in them up-dating it to prove innocence is not so convincing.

Garda Vetting will provide information on any convictions and/or prosecutions recorded against you. If you've never been to court it would not show up during the vetting process. If you have been prosecuted and found to be not guilty then that will be recorded.

jedbartlet wrote: »

Its surly not right that anyone can make a complaint about an individual, malicious or otherwise and it will go on a permanent Garda database just like that!

How else are suspected crimes to be recorded?

chalkitdown

If release of the information is considered a security threat by a 'senior' guard, no. This a Republic in name only.

Yakuza

On a related note, I think there's something going (slowly) through the Dáil at the moment to allow certain types of convictions to be declared "spent" (similar, I believe, to the UK). I think it won't apply for serious crimes but in other cases (say non-custodial traffic offences or petty crime) the slate could be wiped clean after a conviction-free period (according to my layman's interpretation of it at least).

http://www.lawreform.ie/Spent%20Convictions%20Report%20Final%20July%202007.pdf

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0515/1224246567186.html

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

jedbartlet wrote: »

Needless to say my concern is that this record would come to light should I ever have the need to be Garda vetted for what ever reason. I have never been convicted of a criminal offence. And the information on the Garda records system is over ten years old. I have full faith in the Garda to put something on the record, but my faith in them up-dating it to prove innocence is not so convincing.

Its surly not right that anyone can make a complaint about an individual, malicious or otherwise and it will go on a permanent Garda database just like that!

I had an accusation against me, oddly enough this was just over 10 years too. I have been vetted by a good few organisations including banks and it never effected me.

IT may effect your ability to join the Gardai though, which in my opinion is wrong, but not sure what you can do about it...