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Free food and Coffee for the Gardai in some establishments.

MidlandsM

...and yes, it's the establishments choice to award food and/or drinks to a member of the Gardai but my question is, should a member of the Gardai accept such like?

I was in a very busy Topaz filling station where I always see lots of member of the force having their "break" the other day. There was a long Queue waiting to pay for stuff at the tills, which I was in. I know the girl at one of the tills and I noted a discreet exchange between her and a Garda who just got a coffee and some sort of snack.....she said "you're grand,no charge" ....and he just said "thanks" .......lots of people noted the Freebie, and lots of eye's rolled to heaven....

Personally I think he should insist on paying for it.....it look like a "Stroke" Freebie to me......

what do you think?

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Local-womanizer

Zebra3 wrote: »

Local-womanizer wrote: »

I think the Quinns and corrupt politicians are scum, gardai taking a free tea of coffee, I have no issue with.

Kind of puts ruin to your post.

No, it doesn't.

They shouldn't be taking freebies so their integrity cannot be called into question.

I work in the private sector and am strictly forbidden from taking anything for free from any suppliers.

I'd be sacked if I was caught doing so.

Free coffee at petrol stations then free gargle off boozers....

Well your point was moot, you are now making a different one.

I work in a pub, and have done for the last 3 years. This pub is frequented by many gardai, from beat cop,traffic cop, drug cops and inspectors. Never once were any of them looking for free drink, or were they given any free drink. Not once.

In my other job I get free stuff of reps, and my employer knows about this.

And as I have pointed out, shops and cafes I frequent often give me items on the house or discounted.

At the end of they day they do a tough job, why anyone wants to begrudge them a cup of tea is beyond me, it's not like they are taking cash bribes.

Boombastic

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Well your point was moot, you are now making a different one.

I work in a pub, and have done for the last 3 years. This pub is frequented by many gardai, from beat cop,traffic cop, drug cops and inspectors. Never once were any of them looking for free drink, or were they given any free drink. Not once.

In my other job I get free stuff of reps, and my employer knows about this.

And as I have pointed out, shops and cafes I frequent often give me items on the house or discounted.

At the end of they day they do a tough job, why anyone wants to begrudge them a cup of tea is beyond me, it's not like they are taking cash bribes.

Are you in a position of power?

Icepick

Melion wrote: »

A friend of mine used to work in Topaz. He told he that they used to throw out litres of coffee at the end of the day. What's the problem?

Make one cup at a time.

Local-womanizer

Boombastic wrote: »

Local-womanizer wrote: »

Well your point was moot, you are now making a different one.

I work in a pub, and have done for the last 3 years. This pub is frequented by many gardai, from beat cop,traffic cop, drug cops and inspectors. Never once were any of them looking for free drink, or were they given any free drink. Not once.

In my other job I get free stuff of reps, and my employer knows about this.

And as I have pointed out, shops and cafes I frequent often give me items on the house or discounted.

At the end of they day they do a tough job, why anyone wants to begrudge them a cup of tea is beyond me, it's not like they are taking cash bribes.

Are you in a position of power?

No, but as I have said, any cop who is swayed by a cup of tea is stupid. I have never seen any preferential treatment from guards towards other pubs or shops.

Even in our pub, with all the guards that are regulars, the traffic corp are still fond of hanging around the locality.

Seriously, this thread is absolutely ridiculous, a cup of tea given free is a nice gesture, given by shops to many people and emergency services, what is the big deal?! It's not going to corrupt the police force ffs!

twinytwo

My god, with all the things that are rotten in this country... this is what you choose to moan about????? who gives a flying **** if the guards get free coffee????

If a fireman got free coffee would you also moan? or is it ok for them because they are the ones that go into burning buildings when everyones else is running out?

MagicSean

Boombastic wrote: »

Are the little old ladies tendering for an €11 +million a year contract from the Gardai?

There's one of those posts you couldn't find earlier. Completely irrelevant. The gardai who get a free cup of tea have absolutely no input on who gets any tender. And it happens in most petrol stations, not just the ones where they get fuel.

mfceiling

I always thought this was true.

My local topaz always seems to have a few guards in getting coffee. No hassle there....probably a sh*tty enough job at the best of times...I'm begrudging nobody a free cup.

Boombastic

MagicSean wrote: »

There's one of those posts you couldn't find earlier. Completely irrelevant. The gardai who get a free cup of tea have absolutely no input on who gets any tender. And it happens in most petrol stations, not just the ones where they get fuel.

Well it's a bit silly to be comparing a little old lady giving a garda a cup of tea to a multi-million pound cooperation offering the whole force cups of tea.

If little old ladies and shops are giving the gardai free tea, when exactly do they get time to work?

Is it ok for councilors to accept freebies from developers? how about politicians? Why/why not?

Why leave it open to abuse - a lot of companies have a policy where staff cannot accept gifts

Zebra3

Are people on here that thick that they think "it's only a cup of tea" when it's been pointed out that it's constant stream of freebies? :rolleyes:

And the rubbish that guards are Topaz's biggest (or one of) customer.

They are not.

The taxpayer is. That's who pays for all the petrol that goes into squad cars. :rolleyes:

mikemac1

The shops in the IFSC in Dublin 1 do this.

Free coffee plus rolls for a euro

They like having the uniforms hanging around the shops, keeps away the local kids from messing

If I owned a shop in a busy spot I'd like the uniforms to hang around too

And realy coffee costs feck all, once you have the machine and what you need, it's costing just a few cent for a cup

Local-womanizer

Boombastic wrote: »

If little old ladies and shops are giving the gardai free tea, when exactly do they get time to work?

Seriously? Does it need to be pointed out?

When they are not on their lunch break, that's when they work.

And a part of their work is interacting with the public, especially old folk in rural areas,by the gardai calling once a week and having a chat they are putting the old person at ease, reassuring them they are about in event of an emergency etc when they are in the house they might take a cup of tea.

Mickey H

Free coffee for the force.

Hmmm, in fairness, the odd mug of scald not going through the till is hardly an issue.

Love them or hate them, the vast majority of Gardai are in fact sound and alot of them have an awful lot of sh1te to deal with. So, I'd let this one go.

Local-womanizer

Zebra3 wrote: »

Are people on here that thick that they think "it's only a cup of tea" when it's been pointed out that it's constant stream of freebies? :rolleyes:

And the rubbish that guards are Topaz's biggest (or one of) customer.

They are not.

The taxpayer is. That's who pays for all the petrol that goes into squad cars. :rolleyes:

What freebies? Show us exactly what free stuff guards get?

Members of the force also pay tax btw. What about ambos and fire vehicles, and Defence forces vehicles who use these services, is that wrong too?

mikemac1

Same goes on with hotels too

If a coach driver bring a tour group to a hotel for carvary then the driver eats for free. And all the minerals he can drink

Makes sense, keep the driver happy and make your money off the 40 dinners you just sold

Pottler

This is absolute boll0x tbh, free coffee? So what? I get free coffee in the ss we go to as all our vans get filled there and all our lads buy their rolls etc there as well. It's called looking after the customer and if having that customer around in the case of a guard means you're less likly to get robbed/hassled by scumbags, then the ss would be utterly dumb not to offer them free coffee and buns. I really don't see what the big deal is.

Where To

Zebra3 wrote: »

Are people on here that thick that they think "it's only a cup of tea" when it's been pointed out that it's constant stream of freebies? :rolleyes:

And the rubbish that guards are Topaz's biggest (or one of) customer.

They are not.

The taxpayer is. That's who pays for all the petrol that goes into squad cars. :rolleyes:

Says someone whose sig implies they don't pay their taxes.

superblu

I used to work in a 24 hour restaurant in stillorgan when I was in university. Guards used to get free tea and coffee and 50% off food. They came and went at all hours and were always dead on. I never begrudged them anything and used to load up their plates.

girl in the striped socks

Zebra3 wrote: »

Are people on here that thick that they think "it's only a cup of tea" when it's been pointed out that it's constant stream of freebies? :rolleyes:

And the rubbish that guards are Topaz's biggest (or one of) customer.

They are not.

The taxpayer is. That's who pays for all the petrol that goes into squad cars. :rolleyes:

You do realise that guards pay taxes too?

I have found over the years that anyone who comes up with the argument of the taxpayer pays guards wages is, more often than not, very ignorant & just loves to jump on that bandwagon.

Boombastic

"3. Integrity
Payments, Gifts, Entertainment

Employees are encouraged to consider the motive behind business gifts and entertainment and are to ensure that the practice is done only in the spirit of business courtesy and relationship management and in no way creates an environment where one party feels a sense of obligation to the other party.

Employees are not to be involved in any act that could be interpreted as seeking, receiving or dispensing a bribe, kickback or questionable payment. It is unethical and illegal."

If the business is giving the garda freebies under the impression of faster respose times to crimes in their premises, it is unethical for the garda to accept it. If it is seen as a kickback (which it is) it is also unethical to accept it

and from the ombudsman

GARDA SÍOCHÁNA OMBUDSMAN COMMISSION
CODE OF ETHICS

I

NTEGRITY

2. Garda Ombudsman personnel shall not accept any gifts or similar favours unless
authorised by the Commission. Any such offers or gratuities should be declared to the
Commission and personnel must act within the law at all times.

mikemac1

Anyone else thinking of Al Pacino in Serpico and how he couldn't understand why the local deli gave out free food?

Good film, check it out

FanadMan

Boombastic wrote: »

Well it's a bit silly to be comparing a little old lady giving a garda a cup of tea to a multi-million pound cooperation offering the whole force cups of tea.

If little old ladies and shops are giving the gardai free tea, when exactly do they get time to work?

Is it ok for councilors to accept freebies from developers? how about politicians? Why/why not?

Why leave it open to abuse - a lot of companies have a policy where staff cannot accept gifts

So every member of AGS goes to Topaz for their cuppa? The Garda stations must be totally empty at lunchtime!

Boombastic

Local-womanizer wrote: »

What freebies? Show us exactly what free stuff guards get?
...............

Er...coffee for starters, who knows what else?

FanadMan wrote: »

So every member of AGS goes to Topaz for their cuppa? The Garda stations must be totally empty at lunchtime!

Who said they all have lunch at the same time?

Local-womanizer

Boombastic wrote: »

Er...coffee for starters, who knows what else!

No one. So why insinuate that something dodgy is going on?

Boombastic

Local-womanizer wrote: »

No one. So why insinuate that something dodgy is going on?

Why leave the system open to abuse?

Japer

Boombastic wrote: »

I hope they remember to list all these perks of the job when they are complaining about their wages being cut

lol

SuperInfinity

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

You do realise that guards pay taxes too?

I have found over the years that anyone who comes up with the argument of the taxpayer pays guards wages is, more often than not, very ignorant & just loves to jump on that bandwagon.

lol, my god seriously? You really just wrote that?

:pac:

I think the gardai make a net profit from the money they're given.

_feedback_

Zebra3 wrote: »

Are people on here that thick that they think "it's only a cup of tea" when it's been pointed out that it's constant stream of freebies? :rolleyes:

And the rubbish that guards are Topaz's biggest (or one of) customer.

They are not.

The taxpayer is. That's who pays for all the petrol that goes into squad cars. :rolleyes:

I didn't see where the constant stream of freebies were mentioned?

What's your point about the taxpayer? It doesn't make any difference. Money is allocated for that purpose and Topaz want that money. They are doing clever business.

As it happens I don't see the problem with any other business helping out the emergency services with a feckin cup of tea. We expect a lot more than a cup of tea from them.

Pottler

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

You do realise that guards pay taxes too?

I have found over the years that anyone who comes up with the argument of the taxpayer pays guards wages is, more often than not, very ignorant & just loves to jump on that bandwagon.

They should be made to have it as a bumper sticker - "My taxes pay your wages Guard". This would guarantee them a great service from the cops and they could feel they were getting value for money. "Oh great, pulled over again, wonderful..":D

Local-womanizer

Boombastic wrote: »

Local-womanizer wrote: »

No one. So why insinuate that something dodgy is going on?

Why leave the system open to abuse?

Thanks for answering my question. Have you any proof that every member of the force is partaking in a bribe culture, that doesn't include a cup of tea? Actually, can you prove that shops which provide hot beaverages to the AGS experience quicker response times in instances of emergency?

The system is not open to abuse, there is an independent body to investigate the gardai, and I haven't heard of any investigation involving the issue of tea and coffee and a guard.

It's a complete non-issue.

Japer

Boombastic wrote: »

Is it ok for councilors to accept freebies from developers? how about politicians? Why/why not?

the Gardai taking bribes - be it the free drink from the publican or whoever - is the thin end of the wedge. Higher up on the corruption scale are the developers/politicians/planners etc