The heightened occurrence of suspended and convicted Garda officers apparently signals an ongoing shift in the force’s ethos spearheaded by Commissioner Drew Harris, according to the Policing Authority’s new chair, Elaine Byrne. She suggests that the increase in Garda suspensions or convictions, which could be perceived by some as an indication of inherent corruption or deep-seated issues, is instead a mark of improved direct confrontation of particular behaviors that may have been previously overlooked.
Byrne expressed concern over the conduct of the force members, but sees the heightened conviction rates as a positive signal that the law enforcement agency and its anti-corruption unit do not shy away from grappling with internal breaches. Prior to Harris’ appointment as commissioner in 2018, the rate of Garda officers facing allegations and suspension hovered around 30-40. The figure rose past 120 post his appointment, though it has declined to just under 100 recently.
The authority’s recent meet shared statistics reflecting a 40% drop in new suspensions the previous year, a 70% hike in concluding suspensions, and a 36% decrease in the initiation of disciplinary cases within the Garda. The initial two months of this year recorded zero suspensions.
Byrne asserts that the upsurge in suspensions and subsequent court convictions in the period following Harris’ appointment sent an unambiguous message throughout the force. With the commencement of disciplinary investigations and suspensions dwindling, she conjectures that this could likely be proof of the officer cadres’ comprehension of the commissioner’s intent. She upholds the view that the rising conviction rates signal a positive organisational transformation wherein there is no leniency for unacceptable behaviours, with consequences meted out once detected. This, she believes, is perhaps a welcome culture shift within the force.
Byrne, an active barrister with a focus in employment law and regulatory matters, has been a consultant on governance for the European Commission, United Nations, and World Bank. Throughout her career, she has also expressed a keen interest in anti-corruption measures and intends to prioritise this area as Chair of the Authority. In addition to this, she has written for several publications, including The Irish Times.
Her concerns about the increasing amount of civilian staff wishing to transfer out of An Garda Síochána emerged in her initial interview after taking over as the head of the independent policing oversight from previous RTÉ director general Bob Collins in January.
Last week’s revelation that approximately 27 per cent of Garda’s civilian workforce, approximately 900 staff, had sought to transfer out of the Garda to different areas of the Civil Service was disconcerting.
A Policing Authority report titled “What We Heard 2023” indicated that the majority of the civilian staff were seeking transfer due to uncertainties about their employment terms and conditions amid impending changes from their status shift from civil to public servants following the implementation of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
Byrne finds the volume of transfer requests alarming, as it affects policing operations directly. The departure of skilled, experienced personnel was certainly worrying. She believes the issue goes beyond the Guard, reflecting broader concerns about civil and public servants’ terms and conditions.
She inferred that with the introduction of the new Bill, the Guard served as an experimental platform for some of these employment conditions. The civilian reaction suggested dissatisfaction with their uncertain positions, which in turn, affects the policing function.
Nonetheless, she indicates that the level of resignations of sworn Garda officers is not higher than international averages, despite supposedly reaching crisis levels. The concentration has predominantly been on the resignation or early retirement of members of the Garda. But comparatively speaking, last year’s figure of 1.2 per cent, equating to a resignation of 169 members stands favourable with international trends.
The intensified debates about police presence and opening hours of police stations in rural Ireland may not align with the demands of a modern-day society, according to Byrne. Since assuming her position with the authority in 2021, and becoming its chair two months ago, she has been part of many discussions centred around the need for enhanced IT capabilities in the Garda.
The renewed structural needs stem from the shifting nature of crimes that the Garda has had to grapple with in recent years. A significant uptick has been seen in instances of cyber fraud, which saw an even faster rise during the Covid-19 pandemic. Increasing cases of child sexual abuse, involving the distribution and consumption of illicit content, is another challenge that the Garda is dealing with.
Byrne pointed out that the nature of these criminal activities, especially those concerning child exploitation and abuse, are relatively new compared to the crimes her parents’ generation encountered. She stated the need for providing the necessary resources to combat such crimes, suggesting a potential diversion from simply increasing numbers at rural police stations – something that the traditional image of police force relies on.
Being raised in a rural setting herself, Byrne fully comprehends the dynamics of such a locale. However, she also emphasised that spatial barriers do not prevent the commission of online crimes towards children, which may have life-long impacts. Solving such crimes, in her view, requires not mere local officers, but digital experts who could be located anywhere across Ireland.
In addition, Byrne expressed her astonishment about the overwhelming demand for policing in the West Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Region, encompassing Blanchardstown, Clondalkin, Finglas, Lucan and Ballyfermot. On certain nights, she revealed, the division experiences more calls and activity than all other districts in the nation combined, posing a considerable challenge for its workforce.
Byrne, in her role as the authority chair, aims to underpin both the public interactions of the Gardaí and the support of its members with a focus on human rights. Despite the intense commitment required of the guards, Byrne acknowledges an unparalleled level of fulfilment stemming from the daily influence they exert on people’s lives—an opportunity that remains elusive for most.
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