Gardaí to test batons and protective vests
Under the pilot project, gardaí will test a baton of up to 28 inches in length which is designed to deal with serious pubic order incidents. Vests to protect against knife and gun attacks will also be tested.
Garda associations believe the equipment and weapons are urgently needed to protect members against attacks, which they say are increasing in number and severity.
The Garda Representative Association estimates more than 900 gardaí are assaulted every year. Two men were jailed for assaults on gardaí last week.
A garda spokesman confirmed a pilot project to try out anti-stab and anti-ballistic vests was imminent, to be followed by tests on the batons.
He said: “No decision has been made to go ahead with any of them on a general basis yet.
He said a review group led by Assistant Commissioner Joe Egan investigated the issue of non-lethal weapons and made recommendations on the protection of members.
These included the introduction of anti-stab vests, which would also protect against needles, and anti-ballistic vests, which would protect against gun shots.
The anti-stab vests would be issued to all gardaí while anti-ballistic vests would be issued to gardaí with firearm certificates.
The spokesman said all the details regarding the retractable batons had yet to be finalized.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell has said he is against the ‘Robocop’ image that went with more weapons and equipment.
However gardaí say anti-stab and anti-ballistic vests would worn underneath garda tunics and the batons, which are retractable, would be contained in a new utility belt.
A spokesman for the Irish Council of Civil Liberties said they were “absolutely opposed” to the proposed batons, citing the unarmed ethos of the force and concerns over the behaviour of some gardaí at the Reclaim the Streets march in May.
