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guards carrying badges off duty

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    #122
    steddyeddy
    Registered Users Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    Dominick Swift Waffle wrote: »
    No they wont assault you obviously but they might remember it some night they find him serving drink after hours or might get there a bit quicker if he rings them up over a burglary etc. Its in a business owners interest to be friendly with the Gardai.

    Why do you think so many places give free entry to them or a free coffee. Now I think its perfectly fair, every job has perks and getting a free coffee etc is the least a local business can do and giving free entry to an event,club etc is no different, it keeps them happy and is no more than they deserve in most cases for the hard job that they do.

    Hard job indeed but I don't allow people to walk all over me.


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    #123
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    Dominick Swift Waffle wrote: »
    No they wont assault you obviously but they might remember it some night they find him serving drink after hours or might get there a bit quicker if he rings them up over a burglary etc. Its in a business owners interest to be friendly with the Gardai.

    Why do you think so many places give free entry to them or a free coffee. Now I think its perfectly fair, every job has perks and getting a free coffee etc is the least a local business can do and giving free entry to an event,club etc is no different, it keeps them happy and is no more than they deserve in most cases for the hard job that they do.

    Gardai who indulge in this activity are not much better than a protection racket IMO. So, on that line of logic, should they march into Harvey Normans/Tescos/or wherever and demand free stuff?


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    #124
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    gobnaitolunacy wrote: »
    Gardai who indulge in this activity are not much better than a protection racket IMO. So, on that line of logic, should they march into Harvey Normans/Tescos/or wherever and demand free stuff?

    Ah the usual crap about marching into harvey norman etc. Comparing getting a free coffee with your roll in topaz and getting a free tv is beyond brain dead.

    As has been stated its not just Gardai who get these perks, other front line staff do also. Having the gardai calling to the shop for their lunch more often is good for the shop as people know there is a high chance of a Garda presence and good for the guard if he gets a free coffee.

    Most people get perks in their jobs, some a lot better than a few free cups of tea and saving a 10er getting into a night club.


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    #125
    FTA69
    Registered Users Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    Funnily enough I've never had EMTs, firemen and nurses march up to me at a nightclub door and flash their badge before attempting to stroll in without paying. Never. Not once. The reason cops expect to get in for free into clubs etc is because there's the implicit reasoning that "if you don't look after us, we have the potential to make life difficult for you as a publican." That's it. It's being going on in Ireland since time immemorial whereupon the cops will use their position to get free stuff.

    "Give me a few free pints or I'll nab people for drink driving next week".

    "Let us in for free or we'll be back to moan about the size of your smoking area on the footpath."

    It's a very mild form of corruption that is often in the pub's own interests anyway.

    I wouldn't even have a major problem with it if they arranged something beforehand and were slightly discreet about it only half the time they come across as complete w*nkers.

    Please stop trying to say it's a reward for frontline staff, it isn't. And I've dealt with doorwork enough times to know that's not the case.


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    #126
    gobnaitolunacy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,073 ✭✭✭gobnaitolunacy


    Dominick Swift Waffle wrote: »
    Ah the usual crap about marching into harvey norman etc. Comparing getting a free coffee with your roll in topaz and getting a free tv is beyond brain dead.

    As has been stated its not just Gardai who get these perks, other front line staff do also. Having the gardai calling to the shop for their lunch more often is good for the shop as people know there is a high chance of a Garda presence and good for the guard if he gets a free coffee.

    Most people get perks in their jobs, some a lot better than a few free cups of tea and saving a 10er getting into a night club.


    It may have escaped your notice but there are many, many lower priced items than tvs in HN's. Fair enough maybe the odd freebie from Topaz but whipping out the id everytime for niteclubs etc is tearing the arse out of it and not good PR for the force when the public see it happening. No better than panhandling.


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    #127
    Thundercats Ho
    Registered Users Posts: 2,533 ✭✭✭Thundercats Ho


    gobnaitolunacy wrote: »
    Gardai who indulge in this activity are not much better than a protection racket IMO. So, on that line of logic, should they march into Harvey Normans/Tescos/or wherever and demand free stuff?

    Not a millions miles off tbh.
    Mate of mine works nights in Tesco (12am-8am) stocking shelves, and Guards turn up from time to time to do shopping. The place is closed at midnight (to the public).

    I really couldn't give a fúck what privileges they get. I wouldn't fancy their job, dealing with proper scumbags every day.


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    #128
    msg11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭msg11


    gobnaitolunacy wrote: »
    It may have escaped your notice but there are many, many lower priced items than tvs in HN's. Fair enough maybe the odd freebie from Topaz but whipping out the id everytime for niteclubs etc is tearing the arse out of it and not good PR for the force when the public see it happening.

    Comparing a cup of coffee, to walking into a shop and taking the weekly shop home for free. Have to laugh. Some people are deluded.

    Also there are near 13,000 people in the force. I highly doubt every single one of them is using it to get into a nightclub.


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    #129
    msg11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭msg11


    Thundercats Ho wrote: »
    Not a millions miles off tbh.
    Mate of mine works nights in Tesco (12am-8am) stocking shelves, and Guards turn up from time to time to do shopping. The place is closed at midnight (to the public).

    I really couldn't give a fúck what privileges they get. I wouldn't fancy their job, dealing with proper scumbags every day.

    That's a load of non sense, I work for Tesco and the main bank checkouts and self scans get lifted each night and closed unless the store is 24 hours. So all the cash is in the safe till the store opens and to add to that the group area manager would be asking serious questions why there is a sale going on at 3am when the store is closed.


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    #130
    Seachmall
    Registered Users Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭Seachmall


    msg11 wrote: »
    Comparing a cup of coffee, to walking into a shop and taking the weekly shop home for free. Have to laugh. Some people are deluded.

    I think you're missing the point. It's not the value of the item it's the mentality that some Gardai seem to display.

    If you walk into a store and the idea that you shouldn't have to pay, regardless of what the good is, you are self-entitled asshat.


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    #131
    Uriel.
    Registered Users Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭Uriel.


    B.A._Baracus wrote: »
    Might as well throw this out there as a tidbit :P

    A uniformed Gardai is not allowed purchase alcohol. I've worked in a few retail jobs and they all said it's against the law to do so (funny, against the law, to sell to the law lol) But most will just put a jumper on. It could still be painfully obvious they are a guard. You could even see the gardai shirt popping out (lol) But once its covered it's legal.

    I doubt it's against the law, but open to correction on that.

    More likely is that it is against the Garda Code of Conduct


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    #132
    Hidalgo
    Registered Users Posts: 2,845 ✭✭✭Hidalgo


    true wrote: »
    My landlord when I was in third level was a member of the Gardai, and he used to used his position as a member of the Gardai to try to exert special deals too. As if they were not well enough off already. Sickening. The police forces in other jurisdictions seem to behave better.

    A guard using his/her ID to get free into a nightclub is the height of corruption, sure the police everywhere else are much better.


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    #133
    ironclaw
    Registered Users Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    Plenty of take outs in Dublin give discounts to Gardai and front line staff. Nothing wrong with keeping the people you may depend on sweet.

    As regards payment, remember a lot of these 'high earners' work unsociable, difficult, family unfriendly shift hours. Plenty of them go into work on Christmas Day, New Years etc There entitled to their wage and overtime. Its entirely different from a banker earning €100k for a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 job.


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    #134
    ScumLord
    Registered Users Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    This only happened to me in Latvia, we went into a club and a half naked cop drunk off his nut came over and said he was going to arrest me and showed his badge. I told him to shove his badge up his hole, luckily he didn't quite understand what I was saying and just started laughing and danced off on his merry way.


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    #135
    Seachmall
    Registered Users Posts: 7,041 ✭✭✭Seachmall


    ScumLord wrote: »
    This only happened to me in Latvia, we went into a club and a half naked cop drunk off his nut came over and said he was going to arrest me and showed his badge. I told him to shove his badge up his hole, luckily he didn't quite understand what I was saying and just started laughing and danced off on his merry way.

    Are you sure you didn't just walk into a themed gay club?


    It's a mistake I make on a weekly basis.


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    #136
    Dick Turnip
    Registered Users Posts: 982 ✭✭✭Dick Turnip


    SB2013 wrote: »
    Yes I have read quite a few bits of bull****. But I'm asking you what toll roads Gardaí can skip through as you have stated this is something that is done but backed it up with an example that can no longer happen i.e. the M50

    In relation to this, I have been in the car of an off duty cop a few years back where he produced his badge at the M4 toll booth to avoid paying. The toll attendant took down his badge, sorry Garda ID number and asked him what station they work at and then let us on our merry way without paying.

    Think it's allowed when on duty. That was 5 or 6 years ago so don't know if they've clamped down on it now for off duty guards trying it. BTW - his station is around 60 miles from the M4 toll booth so highly unlikely we were on duty at the time!


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    #137
    FTA69
    Registered Users Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    msg11 wrote: »
    Comparing a cup of coffee, to walking into a shop and taking the weekly shop home for free. Have to laugh. Some people are deluded.

    Also there are near 13,000 people in the force. I highly doubt every single one of them is using it to get into a nightclub.

    No, but a lot of them are doing it and if you ask any nightclub doorman they'll tell you that. I worked over a dozen different clubs and have had it at nearly all of them.


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    #138
    wicklowstevo
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 919 ✭✭✭wicklowstevo


    some of you people are so so so so so stupid it makes my head ache
    and some of ye are just sad making up lies . free shopping in Tesco and Harvey Norman ? would you ever go and ****e.


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    #139
    Pappa Charlie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 853 ✭✭✭Pappa Charlie


    FTA69 wrote: »
    Funnily enough I've never had EMTs, firemen and nurses march up to me at a nightclub door and flash their badge before attempting to stroll in without paying. Never. Not once. The reason cops expect to get in for free into clubs etc is because there's the implicit reasoning that "if you don't look after us, we have the potential to make life difficult for you as a publican." That's it. It's being going on in Ireland since time immemorial whereupon the cops will use their position to get free stuff.

    "Give me a few free pints or I'll nab people for drink driving next week".

    "Let us in for free or we'll be back to moan about the size of your smoking area on the footpath."

    It's a very mild form of corruption that is often in the pub's own interests anyway.

    I wouldn't even have a major problem with it if they arranged something beforehand and were slightly discreet about it only half the time they come across as complete w*nkers.

    Please stop trying to say it's a reward for frontline staff, it isn't. And I've dealt with doorwork enough times to know that's not the case.

    Most Gardai don't flash badges as they don't want every tom dick and Harry knowing their business, I once got a bouncer dealing in a nite club, I hadn't flashed my badge, saw what he was at, rang the local drugs unit, great satisfaction, much better than the €15 I would have saved!


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    #140
    tolow
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭tolow


    In my local chinese the jammy gits get a 60% discount


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    #141
    lucylu
    Registered Users Posts: 2,111 ✭✭✭lucylu


    back in the day living with friends one started dating a guard. he finished college then joined the forc.
    He flashed his badge getting into clubs, left it on the dash while his banger with a broken exhaust was NCTed and he also left it on the dash doing his driving test. He was the worst driver ever. He would turn around to talk to you rather than focussing on the road.
    The fact that would brag about it was worse.
    My friend got sense and dumped him as every small conversation became an interrogation


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    #142
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    They get into coppers for free if they whip out the badge and wink at the bouncer


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    #143
    msg11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭msg11


    FTA69 wrote: »
    No, but a lot of them are doing it and if you ask any nightclub doorman they'll tell you that. I worked over a dozen different clubs and have had it at nearly all of them.

    A lot of them doing it dose not mean all 13,000 of them are doing it. The way people are going on it's like every one of them is getting free coffee, free entry to nightclubs, free TV's, free shopping. You'll have every person on here thinking it is what every Garda dose, you more than likely let more Garda in to the club than you think and what if the Garda only uses his/her badge as ID, I mean if you ask the guy/girl for ID and they produce it technically it is ID.

    As for letting them in for free, that's down to the club same with the free TV's. If people feel that strongly about it make a complaint I am sure the inspector won't be too happy about it.


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    #144
    HondaSami
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,713 ✭✭✭HondaSami


    Thundercats Ho wrote: »
    Not a millions miles off tbh.
    Mate of mine works nights in Tesco (12am-8am) stocking shelves, and Guards turn up from time to time to do shopping. The place is closed at midnight (to the public).

    LOL this has to be the most stupid thing ever, you honestly think anyone is going to risk their job for a few pot noodles in Tesco.
    Some people will believe anything, yes a few flash the badge in clubs but tbh the person who lets them in is a bigger dick imo.
    The toll, what a joke, if anyone thinks guards can travel free via the toll then god help us all, if only half of these myths were true.


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    #145
    6am7f9zxrsjvnb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 430 ✭✭6am7f9zxrsjvnb


    Once,lying in a pool of my own blood at the door of my burgled flat I asked a passing student to spare a fiver for a taxi to A & E...unfortunately,he said he needed it for coppers and a coffee for after.


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    #146
    darragh o meara
    Registered Users Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭darragh o meara


    What's worse is the Reserve Gaurds who also have the badge who flash it at every given chance. I know one or two lads in the reserve who show it off at any given opportunity. One of them even pulled in a car in his own car and gave the driver a lecture on bad driving of course while showing the badge. Same fella thinks he's constantly under cover...


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    #147
    FTA69
    Registered Users Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    msg11 wrote: »
    A lot of them doing it dose not mean all 13,000 of them are doing it.

    I never said they did. Rather that it's a common occurrence and I've had it at almost every club I've done the door at. That's my personal experience. I'm not saying every single cop starts flashing their warrant card at nightclubs, but a few do. And my point is that they look like complete arseholes when they do.
    what if the Garda only uses his/her badge as ID, I mean if you ask the guy/girl for ID and they produce it technically it is ID.

    Balls. The main reason a doorman asks for ID is to ascertain age. There is no reason someone would produce a Garda warrant card at a nightclub door other than to blag their way past a queue or get in for free.
    As for letting them in for free, that's down to the club

    True. It's often in a club owner's interest to let the cops in for free because more often than not it's the same cops you'll be dealing with when you're caught having a staff p*ss-up and blaring music at 4am in the centre of town.


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    #148
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    FTA69 wrote: »

    I never said they did. Rather that it's a common occurrence and I've had it at almost every club I've done the door at. That's my personal experience. I'm not saying every single cop starts flashing their warrant card at nightclubs, but a few do. And my point is that they look like complete arseholes when they do.

    I'd happily look like an arsehole in order to save the price of entry to the club if I was a guard.


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    #149
    FTA69
    Registered Users Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    Dominick Swift Waffle wrote: »
    I'd happily look like an arsehole in order to save the price of entry to the club if I was a guard.

    Good man. Abuse your position in law enforcement to get free stuff. Classy.


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    #150
    steddyeddy
    Registered Users Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    What is it with some people in this country and their willingness to abuse position?


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    #151
    SB2013
    Closed Accounts Posts: 805 ✭✭✭SB2013


    Dick Turnip wrote: »
    In relation to this, I have been in the car of an off duty cop a few years back where he produced his badge at the M4 toll booth to avoid paying. The toll attendant took down his badge, sorry Garda ID number and asked him what station they work at and then let us on our merry way without paying.

    Think it's allowed when on duty. That was 5 or 6 years ago so don't know if they've clamped down on it now for off duty guards trying it. BTW - his station is around 60 miles from the M4 toll booth so highly unlikely we were on duty at the time!

    Only works for patrol cars these days.
    darragh o meara wrote: »
    What's worse is the Reserve Gaurds who also have the badge who flash it at every given chance. I know one or two lads in the reserve who show it off at any given opportunity. One of them even pulled in a car in his own car and gave the driver a lecture on bad driving of course while showing the badge. Same fella thinks he's constantly under cover...

    Report him


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