Garda Inspectorate report on Crime Investigation

“This Report should be viewed as a watershed opportunity,” said Garda Inspectorate Chief Inspector, Robert K.Olson. “We have made more than 200 significant recommendations to ensure that crime investigation in the Garda Síochána is in line with, and can exceed international best practice. Some of these recommendations have been made in previous Inspectorate reports, but haven’t been fully implemented, and are, as a result, even more urgent today. Our objective with this Report is to help make the Garda Síochána a better service – better for the public, for victims of crime, for the members themselves, and for the criminal justice system in Ireland.”

The report identifies many deficiencies in systems and practices.

"Many of these issues are not unique to the Garda Síochána,” said Chief Inspector Olson, “but they must be addressed if systems and practices are to be improved.”

The report also identifies many areas of good practice in different garda divisions and in different parts of the country. These include a new Community Policing Model, a range of Crime Prevention Initiatives, cross-district Crime Operations, a new approach to integrated briefings, and a number of technological initiatives including a Garda Portal for Criminal Intelligence Officers. Such elements of good practice, however, while used in some divisions and in some units, are not consistent across the Garda Síochána.

“Throughout the country, we found committed and dedicated people, and we found many elements of good practice,” said Chief Inspector Olson. “But we also found that these elements of good practice are not being shared or employed across the country.

In any organisation of this size, you must ensure that good practice is consistently observed. That requires strong leadership, strong supervision, and strong governance.”

The Minister stated: “This report, undertaken as part of the Inspectorate’s work agreed by the Government, is a vital piece of work which is long overdue. I welcome the comprehensive recommendations on the need for upgraded technology, effective systems and changes to management practice. The Inspectorate’s analysis provides an important foundation stone for future development of a 21st century policing service for Ireland.”

The Report states that “The Inspectorate was impressed by the hundreds of hard working and dedicated rank and file officers, reserves and support staff (they) met in every region, that were doing their best to get the job done, not withstanding inefficient processes, dated technology and poor management practices...”

Commenting on this, the Minister stated “the report rightly acknowledges, as I do, the dedication and commitments of the men and women of An Garda Síochána who strive everyday to ensure the safety of our communities and the security of our state. Day-in-day-out, members of An Garda Síochána have many considerable successes in preventing and detecting crime, identifying and arresting offenders and keeping our communities safe.”

“There is a pressing need to ensure that An Garda Síochána has access to effective, modern systems and processes; particularly where systems and processes have not kept pace with developments in broader society and other police services globally”.