Lack of garda supervision ‘has worsened’

The lack of supervision of rank-and-file gardaí by sergeants — revealed in a police watchdog report — has worsened in the last year, the staff association for middle-ranking officers has said.

In a report, the Garda Inspectorate said it was “unacceptable” that sergeants were unable to supervise gardaí by accompanying them on duty because they were snowed under by bureaucracy.

The watchdog said it had identified “significant gaps in supervision at the frontline”, and that this was a particular problem for young, inexperienced gardaí.