Garda watchdog in warning on supervision

A policing watchdog has issued an urgent alert over the lack of supervision, by sergeants, of rank-and-file gardaí.

The Garda Inspectorate said sergeants were prevented from going out on patrol with gardaí because of “cumbersome administrative duties” which led to an unacceptable situation.

The body said there were significant gaps in supervision and, in many areas, young and less experienced gardaí are not operating with adequate supervision.