Serving gardaí may join new body

SERVING gardaí may be invited to join a new garda inspectorate as investigators, a senior civil servant involved in drawing up plans for the body said yesterday.

But those who do join will have to sever all connections with the force, Department of Justice official Frank Boughton said yesterday.

Mr Boughton revealed the department plan at a seminar on the future of policing which was organised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and attended by the North’s police ombudsman Nuala O’Loan.

Ms O’Loan said the new inspectorate must have staff with police expertise. “Do not try and do it without the skills. It does not work,” warned Ms O’Loan, who heads a staff of 126 investigating 3,000 complaints a year. Forensic, investigative and interrogation skills will be needed.

Legislation introducing the inspectorate is due to be published before the summer. Minister of State Willie O’Dea told the seminar it is envisaged it will be headed by a three-person panel and will have full investigative powers.

Mr O’Dea also revealed that it will be able to examine practices and procedures which could give rise to complaints of public concern rather than looking at efficiency or value for money issues.

The issue of who will staff the office has divided opinion, with fears expressed that a large number of former gardaí investigators will threaten its independence.

In the North, the senior investigators are all officers seconded from British forces while other non-police personnel receive fast-track training.

As the garda is a single force officials drawing up legislation here have spent considerable time on staffing. Mr Boughton said his office had to consider using existing gardaí, who would then cease to be force members. Other staff are likely to have a law background.

Ms O’Loan’s office has extensive powers of search, seizure, surveillance and interview. She can recommend prosecution or disciplinary action. The ombudsman can also impel special branch to hand over files.

Ms O’Loan said it was up to the government to decide what’s best for here but human rights advocate Michael Farrell argued the inspectorate should have the same, if not more, powers. There should also be close co-operation between the two bodies, the seminar heard.

George Maybury, of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, said his members did not fear the possibility of a strong and independent inspectorate.