Data On Pulse & Garda App

mk7r

Posting here after an interesting experience to see if anyone knows what information is available on the Garda App and Pulse system and is it possible to have this information removed/corrected.

I was pulled over recently and they explained that due to my criminal history I was flagged for a check so I asked what criminal history exactly as I haven't even a penalty point (and never had) and she listed out a string of offences such as dangerous driving, a serious accident in which a child was knocked down, Driving without insurance, Having car seized to be inspected by the PSV etc.

Now I have been driving for 20+ years and have had the odd interaction with the Gardai mostly positive to be fair but 12 years ago I was pulled over by a Garda on foot who claimed I was speeding very dangerously. He issued a summons for dangerous driving, I went to see the Superintendent with a witness and dashcam footage and the matter was dropped immediately.

I was a witness to a serious car accident with the child however I was in no way involved, I just provided a statement and had to give evidence.

As part of my job I sometimes drive unusual cars and had one confiscated as the Garda formed the opinion that it was defective however the PSV inspector disagreed and nothing more was said (It was an open wheel car, unusual to be fair)

My issue is even though I explained these situations to the garda she said all she could see was that I had been marked for these events not the context or actual outcome and the dates she had were off by up to 8 years.

I'm obviously not too pleased to have this information being displayed in such a way but is there anything I can actually do about it?

Lenar3556

The pulse system can have intelligence entries tagged to a vehicle or person.

If you feel some or all of these entries are misleading or giving rise to unnecessary engagement with Gardai, you could write to the local superintendent with your concerns and ask that the records be amended.

Outside of that there isn’t really any action you can take.

bennyx_o

Did you recently purchase the car? I'd be fairly certain the marker is on the car, they've no way of knowing who is driving a car

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123258887#Comment_123258887

No I have owned the car for over a decade, the marker was on the car yesterday.

csirl

The next time you are pulled over, record the conversation and then sue the Gardai AND the individual officer for defamation. Claim you were mortified, embarrassed and distressed at being pulled over in a public place and being called a criminal.

Guaranree you that you'll get a "do not pull over" type flag on pulse from then on!

Orban6

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259037#Comment_123259037

Good luck with that!

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259037#Comment_123259037

That’s nonsense.

Gusser09

Pulse and garda "intelligence" is used as a sort of facebook for some of its members for gossip and dirt on people.

What the garda said to you sounds consistent with what you had previously been involved in.

The access they have to such data is dangerous really as it doesnt really have any impact on crime. Pulse really needs to be reviewed and a lot of historic non criminal information and incidents recorded should be deleted.

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259045#Comment_123259045

Why is it any different to those cases where someone is wrongly called a shoplifter?

A Garda who knows someone has no convictions - and pulse has enough detail, even on the app, to show this - and calls them a criminal in public should be held accountable. Unacceptable behaviour.

Gusser09

Op ask for a copy of who has been accessing your data on pulse for the craic and the reason they have accessed it.

I guarantee you if you know gardai they will have snooped.

Dont let it lie. The access to such non criminal data seriously needs to be reviewed.

BattleCorp

The Pulse is a brutal system. Even the Central Statistics Office issued a warning over the information regarding firearms information on it and how woefully inaccurate it is.

SVI40

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259126#Comment_123259126

I can vouch for that!

BattleCorp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259247#Comment_123259247

Same here.

Gusser09

Also the data which was held on children at one stage.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259076#Comment_123259076

I don't know the Garda in question but I have no doubt they do have a snoop from time to time, a bank I did work for was absolutely rampant with people checking out friends/enemies accounts so why would the gardai be different.

I think it's more the context, if you look at the app it looks like im regularly in trouble as there is no context. Yes I had a car seized but it was perfectly legal and the Garda just made a mistake but I'm forever marked now it seems despite never actually committing any offenses

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259072#Comment_123259072

To sue for defamation, there has to be publication. Someone other than the person allegedly defamed must hear or read the remark alleged to be defamatory. In a shop people were claiming other people were about and heard what was said. This is not the case with a guard talking to a motorist alone in a car. Furthermore, a guard on official business will be covered by qualified privilege. It will have to be proven the remarks were made maliciously.

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123261030#Comment_123261030

Garda interaction with a member of the public in public isnt a qualified priviledge scenario. The test is whether they are acting bone fides in the course of their actions and without negligence.

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123262186#Comment_123262186

Your use of the phrase bona fides gives the game away. They have a statutory right and indeed duty to interact with members of the public. To avoid qualified privilege you would have to show malice with of course would involve mala fides. In the absecnce of malice it would be assumed they are acting bona fide.

pale rider

where humans are involved then this can happen, If it were me and I had the car over a decade I’d change the car and you disappear.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123263558#Comment_123263558

Well no because the flag is on my car but all the data is on me so any time I hand very my licence or get looked up they see all this information

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123261030#Comment_123261030

Surely there is publication within the Garda when this information is added to Pulse?

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123264765#Comment_123264765

That is not sufficient. Any such communication within the Garda is privileged.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123259684#Comment_123259684

Did the bank not record and maintain an audit trail of every staff member accessing every account?