Sergeants and inspectors renew attack on plans for reserve force

GARDA sergeants and inspectors last night renewed their attack on Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plan for a reserve force.

Mr McDowell plans to recruit around 900 volunteers into the Garda Reserve by September to carry out policing duties in the presence of uniformed gardaí.

At a mass meeting in Dublin yesterday, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) repeated its central criticism that the reserve would undermine the professionalism of the force.