Benefits of being a Garda

banjoh_10 · 22-03-2021 10:25AM

Any serving members here know of any updates on new recruits starting?

AF96DUB · 22-03-2021 01:19PM

Loveinapril wrote: »

I am not a garda but often deal with them in my social care job. I know a few people who studied social care, worked in the area for a few years then became excellent Gardaí because of the compassion they had for the most vulnerable in society. If you are thinking of studying anything before joining, social care would b3 a good one. You would get a deeper knowledge into addiction, homelessness, at risk families, travelling community and other issues that you would face on a daily basis as a Garda.

This is the exact background I come from myself, you gain all the experience required for the role in terms of conflict management, physical and mental health crisis and empathy etc. On my meetings with the Inspector and sergeant, they told me its the ideal work to do before applying so I would encourage anyone to do some of that work before applying!

JimmyVik · 22-03-2021 01:25PM

I thought i wouldnt mind being a guard.
Then I watched "Inside the K"
Game over

Hopeful12 · 22-03-2021 01:29PM

Infernal Racket wrote: »

Biggest cause for disillusion is probably senior management having absolutely no idea about what's happening on the ground yet pretending they do and also the court system. You could spend weeks, months or sometimes years working on an investigation only to see a judge hand out a paltry conviction because the defendent hired or probably got a free solicitor and barrister who told a very good sob story which, in the vast majority of times works a charm on the disconnected from reality judge.

Just a quick question on your take regarding "senior management being disillusioned to the job".
As there is no cadetship program in AGS all members start at the rank of Garda and work their way up the chain of command. While no organisation is perfect, surely this apprenticeship style hierarchy allows for more "in tune" leadership when compared with most private organisations?

As for the court system, I would imagine it must be quite demotivating when hard work becomes undone by a lenient judge!

Interested in your opinion on this one!

Thanks!

TravisLogan123 · 22-03-2021 01:45PM

JimmyVik wrote: »

I thought i wouldnt mind being a guard.
Then I watched "Inside the K"
Game over

Funnily enough, watching that show made me want to join the guards even more , and especially , to request Dublin as my station

such an education you would get above compared to being down the country

22-03-2021 02:14PM

TravisLogan123 wrote: »

Funnily enough, watching that show made me want to join the guards even more , and especially , to request Dublin as my station such an education you would get above compared to being down the country

Far more to being a guard then dealing with little toerags from housing estates.

TravisLogan123 · 22-03-2021 03:03PM

Dohvolle wrote: »

Because down the country the GS only deal with things like no tax on the tractor and Sheep rustling?
The only difference between Dublin and any other station in Ireland is Dublin have more backup to call on when the natives get restless. If you are down the country, and it's 2AM, you may be the only 2 members on duty, and the nearest neighbouring car is 40 miles in the opposite direction, that's when you earn your pay.
I was stationed in Limerick. One summer Saturday, as all the crowd falling from the pubs were getting messy outside Supermacs, there was a total of 8 gardai available in the city, between 3 stations.
When I was on phase 2 in Cork, I was involved in 3 different murder inquiries.
There is life beyond the pale, you know.

That’s not what I meant at all , i was just saying them type of scenarios appealed to me , I never said anything about guards down the country being inferior at all
Dublin and cities just seems to be constant go go go ,

I’v heard enough stories from Garda friends that are stationed in rural areas and their days seem mundane enough

TallGlass2 · 24-03-2021 11:45PM

I will bring a bit of 'balance', I am an ex member of AGG. I left, as it was not for me.

What was not for me, was the role was nearly still vocational in mindset/what is requested of you. Yet, your expected to also balance a 'normal' lifestyle with the role. So you have a vocational mindset clashing with a career mindset.

The regular unit, I will not lie, it is tuff work most of the time. Yes there is downtime, however that downtime is quickly made up for in other areas of the regular. Like you might get an hour or two 'free' but trust me if it is in anyway a busy station, you will work in 2 hours in 1, or even 3 hours in 1!

There is no way around the regular, at a guess you'll be on it for 5/7/10 years before moving (if you even move). There is a term called a 'mule', never liked that term to be honest nor never understood why anyone would call themselves as such. Regardless, you'll essentially do all the heavy lifting as the 'core' unit, as a new addition to the unit (not right away but in time) you will do the bottom end stuff and eventually move up the ladder of the unit (still however the unit still does the heavy lifting for the most part).

I would still say to anyone, if your interested, really think about it first. It is a fairly sizable effort to get in and trained up. I would also say to that person, be prepared to walk away also. It is not easy to walk away from, trust me. You'll have told everyone, you'll be thinking 'what will they think of me' and so on. Quite frankly in my experience no one actually cares!

I'm not here or going to slate AGS, I do not hold anything bad about AGS. Its a hell of a tuff job, and there are excellent members in the organisation at all ranks.

Options will vary from member to member, be it retire, in service or ex.

The flip side to this all is, that you might really enjoy it.

That said, really consider everything.

Then consider all that in 3/5 years.

Then consider it again about how you'd feel after 10 years, then 20 years.

25/30 not so much your in it for the long haul then!

Posters have mentioned valid points, consider also 'external' or core parts of the job that are actually part of another state system, such as court and that side of things (dealing with solicitors etc..). As in percentage wise arresting someone is about 5% of the work load (made up figure, but my point is there is actually far more to it). As an example, I watch YouTube videos now, I see the excitement and I then think to myself 'thank god that is not me, the paperwork and reports in that'.

Hopeful12 · 25-03-2021 12:23AM

TallGlass2 wrote: »

I will bring a bit of 'balance', I am an ex member of AGG. I left, as it was not for me.

What was not for me, was the role was nearly still vocational in mindset/what is requested of you. Yet, your expected to also balance a 'normal' lifestyle with the role. So you have a vocational mindset clashing with a career mindset.

The regular unit, I will not lie, it is tuff work most of the time. Yes there is downtime, however that downtime is quickly made up for in other areas of the regular. Like you might get an hour or two 'free' but trust me if it is in anyway a busy station, you will work in 2 hours in 1, or even 3 hours in 1!

There is no way around the regular, at a guess you'll be on it for 5/7/10 years before moving (if you even move). There is a term called a 'mule', never liked that term to be honest nor never understood why anyone would call themselves as such. Regardless, you'll essentially do all the heavy lifting as the 'core' unit, as a new addition to the unit (not right away but in time) you will do the bottom end stuff and eventually move up the ladder of the unit (still however the unit still does the heavy lifting for the most part).

I would still say to anyone, if your interested, really think about it first. It is a fairly sizable effort to get in and trained up. I would also say to that person, be prepared to walk away also. It is not easy to walk away from, trust me. You'll have told everyone, you'll be thinking 'what will they think of me' and so on. Quite frankly in my experience no one actually cares!

I'm not here or going to slate AGS, I do not hold anything bad about AGS. Its a hell of a tuff job, and there are excellent members in the organisation at all ranks.

Options will vary from member to member, be it retire, in service or ex.

The flip side to this all is, that you might really enjoy it.

That said, really consider everything.

Then consider all that in 3/5 years.

Then consider it again about how you'd feel after 10 years, then 20 years.

25/30 not so much your in it for the long haul then!

Posters have mentioned valid points, consider also 'external' or core parts of the job that are actually part of another state system, such as court and that side of things (dealing with solicitors etc..). As in percentage wise arresting someone is about 5% of the work load (made up figure, but my point is there is actually far more to it). As an example, I watch YouTube videos now, I see the excitement and I then think to myself 'thank god that is not me, the paperwork and reports in that'.

Thanks for the honest answer, really good to hear from someone who has been there and done it!
I have heard friends echo your sentiment on the "regular" - I've heard of some members getting "lucky" and moving into a specialist unit very quickly and I know someone who actually decliend a move as they enjoyed the regular so much. Having the long haul mindset seems to be the way to go!!

Did you find it hard to pick up a job back in civvy life and how was your AGS experience viewed in private industry?

Get Real · 25-03-2021 06:21PM

From a friend, it has its benefits. But be aware it will take your time where you have to stay on, have to attend court dates etc. Alot of cancelled nights out and run meet ups with him cancelled. Consider if you have kids or a family. A 12 hour shift can turn into 16 or 17.

Also, he has alot of court, on days off. Its paid of course, but your days off aren't really your days off.

Finally, although small numbers wise, and you won't read every case in the news, but on a per capita basis, they have 4 times the suicide rate of the general population. So look after your mental health if you go for it.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-deaths-by-suicide-four-times-national-average-figures-suggest-1.4255445%3fmode=amp

Edgware · 28-03-2021 07:08PM

A Garda relative told me that the most important influence on your career is your first station and unit. If you get into a busy station with a good unit of Gardai, male and female, who are interested in work you will have a great start. There are also many different areas where you can apply to get into and generally if you are a sound good worker you will get there. Promotion is competitive and like everything in Ireland there can be "pull" involved.
Before options for detective, drug squads etc were nearly confined to Dublin but every Division has drug units, armed units, traffic corps etc. Also there are options for service with the United Nations, Europol etc.
Of course some lads will bitch about a Garda having "pull" when the only reason is because he or she is a good worker

CD2020! · 28-03-2021 11:44PM

TallGlass2 wrote: »

I will bring a bit of 'balance', I am an ex member of AGG. I left, as it was not for me.

What was not for me, was the role was nearly still vocational in mindset/what is requested of you. Yet, your expected to also balance a 'normal' lifestyle with the role. So you have a vocational mindset clashing with a career mindset.

The regular unit, I will not lie, it is tuff work most of the time. Yes there is downtime, however that downtime is quickly made up for in other areas of the regular. Like you might get an hour or two 'free' but trust me if it is in anyway a busy station, you will work in 2 hours in 1, or even 3 hours in 1!

There is no way around the regular, at a guess you'll be on it for 5/7/10 years before moving (if you even move). There is a term called a 'mule', never liked that term to be honest nor never understood why anyone would call themselves as such. Regardless, you'll essentially do all the heavy lifting as the 'core' unit, as a new addition to the unit (not right away but in time) you will do the bottom end stuff and eventually move up the ladder of the unit (still however the unit still does the heavy lifting for the most part).

I would still say to anyone, if your interested, really think about it first. It is a fairly sizable effort to get in and trained up. I would also say to that person, be prepared to walk away also. It is not easy to walk away from, trust me. You'll have told everyone, you'll be thinking 'what will they think of me' and so on. Quite frankly in my experience no one actually cares!

I'm not here or going to slate AGS, I do not hold anything bad about AGS. Its a hell of a tuff job, and there are excellent members in the organisation at all ranks.

Options will vary from member to member, be it retire, in service or ex.

The flip side to this all is, that you might really enjoy it.

That said, really consider everything.

Then consider all that in 3/5 years.

Then consider it again about how you'd feel after 10 years, then 20 years.

25/30 not so much your in it for the long haul then!

Posters have mentioned valid points, consider also 'external' or core parts of the job that are actually part of another state system, such as court and that side of things (dealing with solicitors etc..). As in percentage wise arresting someone is about 5% of the work load (made up figure, but my point is there is actually far more to it). As an example, I watch YouTube videos now, I see the excitement and I then think to myself 'thank god that is not me, the paperwork and reports in that'.

Yeah a 45 minute lunch or none at all, hours on end sitting with prisoners, horrible abuse interviews, attending suicides, sitting with the body while waiting for doc to attend. Searching a junkie with a wrap in their foreskin (who wants to pull that back?) Pee S and worse left after prisoners in the car. These are the all extra pieces nobody thinks about u till they are confronted with it and left shook.

CD2020! · 28-03-2021 11:56PM

lg.cardonha wrote: »

How can a Garda join the Europol? I heard the Europol headquarters is the Phoenix Park. Does anyone know someone how has joined it?

Its a secondment you'd have to be a guard already depending on the job you want

Edgware · 29-03-2021 10:36AM

Dohvolle wrote: »

It's not pull, it's "Influence".:rolleyes:

In New York its called a hook

TallGlass2 · 29-03-2021 09:01PM

CD2020! wrote: »

Yeah a 45 minute lunch or none at all, hours on end sitting with prisoners, horrible abuse interviews, attending suicides, sitting with the body while waiting for doc to attend. Searching a junkie with a wrap in their foreskin (who wants to pull that back?) Pee S and worse left after prisoners in the car. These are the all extra pieces nobody thinks about u till they are confronted with it and left shook.

Yup, you could start a list in fairness. Randomly hearing someone shouting 'RATS' from a random window, or a group of 20 lads throwing a bottle missing your head by millimetres and having to walk away unless you wanted World War 3 to break out. Sadly you have to know your battles in the job, the effort of going into that crowd, nicking 3/4 people only for it a to go to a JLO or court and a judge been on another planet vs as I said a riot breaking out, members getting injured and the unit been down members for the rest of the tour, when there are barely any members to begin with along with it been heavily edited and plastered all over social media, thus an incoming GSOC complaint. Yes you could see if Public Order are around or if other units can assist, but again all out war, getting injured and the courts not reprimanding people for it.

That said, even as an ex member if I ever seen a member in trouble, I would assist. As I said I did not hate the job, it was its archaic way of thinking and working that done it for me. Yes it is changing but life is to short to be waiting on change at snails pace and then trying to function in a dysfunctional court system. Phek that, I was not invested that heavily in the job.

Still glad to have done it, and would tell anyone not to do it but I would be honest about what to expect. As someone said to me it's less Road Wars and more Heartbeat.

LilacNails · 29-03-2021 10:32PM

Why did u leave TallGlass, if u don't mind me asking.

TallGlass2 · 02-04-2021 02:32AM

LilacNails wrote: »

Why did u leave TallGlass, if u don't mind me asking.

Sorry busy few days rather than radio silence!

Honestly, aspects of the job where just insane, only way to describe it.

In essence it was around 5 things that killed it for me.

Slow system, to get you into areas that match your academic skillset, even in areas in AGS that are like the private sector crying out to fill posts with professionals in these areas.

The regular on the face of it should be manageable, instead its overwhelming.

Unrealistic workloads and unpredictable workloads.

Job absolutely weights on you.

Personality wise, I have no shame in saying it. I was not suited to front line policing, too soft and not hard enough. I was in the middle more towards the softer end of policing.

I remember leaving. End of tour, a neutral medium. Sad to go, pleased knowing I done the right thing for myself.

I will say, I think AGS loses a lot of talent, by the fact you need to start as a Garda in a front line policing role. Aspects of the job are for certain people and not others, people avoid AGS for that reason.

AGS has some really really really good people in it, I do think they alienate alot of people that would like to contribute to it and would really give alot to AGS, but they are put off by the front line policing role. That needs looking at in my eyes, AGS should not be losing talent due to archic rules.

Courts, Judges and Government need to have the backs of not only Gardai on the frontline but all the frontline staff. Any assult on any frontline worker should be met with an iron fist by the courts.

All that said, if you want to go for it, do it. Go in with the intention of if it ain't for me I am walking, be my advice. However, that advice applies when in a station. The college is a different world and has its own challenges! I wouldn't shut up shop over the college, everyone finds it a challenge it's not easy in training.

Wanderer78 · 02-04-2021 04:41AM

TallGlass2 wrote:

Courts, Judges and Government need to have the backs of not only Gardai on the frontline but all the frontline staff. Any assult on any frontline worker should be met with an iron fist by the courts.

The problem is the fact the gardai are in fact an extension of the health service, but the bit we don't truly wanna deal with, the psychological department. This is what frontline staff are dealing with, highly complex social and psychological issues, which have been left fester for eons, and it's getting worse. Coming down hard won't work for such situations, it just further complicates the situation, and creates further dysfunction, most of these offenders in fact need serious professional help, some long term, some indefinite, but these services don't actually exist, and we 're unwilling to create them. And this is where it all ends up, gardai having to deal with it as best as they can, but they're not appropriately trained or supported to do so, so it just continues to escalate, I.e. it's a positive feedback loop. I can't see this changing anytime soon, so for your own well being, I'd say you done the right thing, best of luck, and thank you for trying

02-04-2021 01:55PM

TallGlass2 wrote: »

All that said, if you want to go for it, do it. Go in with the intention of if it ain't for me I am walking, be my advice. However, that advice applies when in a station. The college is a different world and has its own challenges! I wouldn't shut up shop over the college, everyone finds it a challenge it's not easy in training.

Thanks for sharing your experience, its appreciated.

Interesting to hear that about the college, what was it about the college you or others found challenging?

02-04-2021 02:04PM

Zux wrote: »

Thanks for sharing your experience, its appreciated.

Interesting to hear that about the college, what was it about the college you or others found challenging?

If you are an adult joining then you will find it difficult.
The college treats everyone like they are secondary school children, and I include the whole 'no-one leaves this room until the person responsible owns up' type of rubbish.
If you have been used to looking after yourself and being in charge of your own life, then the college comes as a big shock. It is nothing like a third level institution.
there are many rules as to when you can and cannot leave the grounds, or when you have to go to bed!
It is a very challenging time to get through.
It doesn't last forever though.....

02-04-2021 02:10PM

bubblypop wrote: »

If you are an adult joining then you will find it difficult.
The college treats everyone like they are secondary school children, and I include the whole 'no-one leaves this room until the person responsible owns up' type of rubbish.
If you have been used to looking after yourself and being in charge of your own life, then the college comes as a big shock. It is nothing like a third level institution.
there are many rules as to when you can and cannot leave the grounds, or when you have to go to bed!
It is a very challenging time to get through.
It doesn't last forever though.....

Gotcha, I figured thats what you were referring to.

Surely people dont arrive to training so naive as to think its going to be like their experiences in College though?

Its Law Enforcement training after all.

02-04-2021 02:22PM

Zux wrote: »

Gotcha, I figured thats what you were referring to.

Surely people dont arrive to training so naive as to think its going to be like their experiences in College though?

Its Law Enforcement training after all.

law enforcement training doesn't need to treat grown adults like teenage children however.
Just something to be aware of.

02-04-2021 02:23PM

bubblypop wrote: »

law enforcement training doesn't need to treat grown adults like teenage children however.
Just something to be aware of.

Thats fair enough, appreciate the answer !

Wanderer78 · 02-04-2021 04:30PM

bubblypop wrote: »

If you are an adult joining then you will find it difficult.
The college treats everyone like they are secondary school children, and I include the whole 'no-one leaves this room until the person responsible owns up' type of rubbish.
If you have been used to looking after yourself and being in charge of your own life, then the college comes as a big shock. It is nothing like a third level institution.
there are many rules as to when you can and cannot leave the grounds, or when you have to go to bed!
It is a very challenging time to get through.
It doesn't last forever though.....

sounds fcuking ridiculous, if you want new recruits to be adults leaving, treat them as adults during

Witcher · 02-04-2021 05:04PM

The problem is that too many trainees act like children while they're in the college.

Wanderer78 · 02-04-2021 05:12PM

Witcher wrote: »

The problem is that too many trainees act like children while they're in the college.

they effectively are, we all were at that age, so you should try treat them like adults, so they know what its like to be one, not try figure it out in the middle of the night while dealing with lunatics tanked on drink and drugs

02-04-2021 05:29PM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

they effectively are, we all were at that age, so you should try treat them like adults, so they know what its like to be one, not try figure it out in the middle of the night while dealing with lunatics tanked on drink and drugs

I was 23 when I joined, had been living out of home since 18. There were people aged up to 28 years old training with me, many with families.
these days people in their late 30s can and do join.

Wanderer78 · 02-04-2021 06:53PM

bubblypop wrote: »

I was 23 when I joined, had been living out of home since 18. There were people aged up to 28 years old training with me, many with families.
these days people in their late 30s can and do join.

know a chap that went in his 20/30's, ran out of it, too much bullsh1t

Yyhhuuu · 02-04-2021 10:23PM

Witcher wrote: »

The problem is that too many trainees act like children while they're in the college.

I have great respect for the Gardaí but it takes one bad experience to change this. Many are very professional some are not. Some I experienced had a tendency to blame the victim. The other day I pointed out to gardai on the beat a clear breach of the Covid Regulations by a business operating when it should not, I mentioned quite politely the Health Act, 1947 the Garda's response was to repeat the Act with a confused expression on his face as if he had never heard of it and I was mad to cite an archaic piece of Legislation.. He then adopted an interrogative demeanor and asked me where I was from, as if that was relevant. Some gardai have an attitude problem towards law abiding members of the public.

This forum was very insightful into the day to day operations of the gardai. Lay people sometimes dehumanise gardai. I dont think it's an easy job and some of the things they deal with must be very traumatic.

I was watching a few old police dramas lately on tv such as Prime Suspect. What struck me was the police brutality. At least this has ended in the British Isles as far as I know.

One of the key benefits of a garda is it being permanent and pensionable

Itainire · 03-04-2021 09:20AM

Guys this might be a stupid question.. I was reading that people have to stay in the Garda college Monday to Friday. What about those l who don't have a place to go at the weekend? Like people who literally don't have family in Ireland or friends.. are they allowed to stay 24h 7days a week?

Benefits of being a Garda

Comments