Gardaí not trained to speed to crime scene

Many gardaí driving patrol cars cannot chase criminals or speed to an emergency because they have not had adequate driver training.

The situation has been described by the association which represents the country’s 10,500 frontline gardaí as “farcical” and “ludicrous”.

Gardaí who complete a one-day CBD1 (Competency Based Driving) course are allowed to drive patrol cars, but they have to sign a document promising not to exceed the speed limit at any time and they’re also not allowed to turn on its sirens or flashing lights.

It’s only when they have completed the second course CBD2 that they are considered to be fully trained and can respond to emergencies at speed.

According to the Garda Representative Association (GRA) the problem is that there are not enough drivers being trained up to CBD2.

Ultan Sherlock, a Dublin-based GRA central executive committee member, told the organisation’s annual conference in Killarney yesterday that the situation was “farcical”.

He claimed Garda management was using the course as a cover to pretend drivers were properly trained when in fact they weren’t.

Garda Gerard Comerford, who is based in the Kilkenny/Carlow Garda Division, said that after completing the CBD1 course, that gardaí had to sign a declaration that they wouldn’t respond to an emergency with speed, sirens and flashing lights.

“This basically indemnifies the State [if the garda fails to do that]. It does need reform.

“The thought of having a member [of the force] unable to activate the blue lights is ludicrous,” Garda Comerford said.

The conference also heard claims that there are not enough driver trainers at the Garda College in Templemore to cope with demand and it was imperative that more are employed.

In addition, the GRA said that some senior garda management in different divisions were refusing to pay subsistence and travelling allowances to gardaí who were attending driving courses at the college.

Delegates said that senior gardaí were always paid allowances owed to them and the same should apply to any member of the force who was out of pocket by being upskilled to serve the State.