Less than half of all gardaí go on patrol duties

Less than half of all gardaí on duty were engaged in patrolling and high-visibility policing last year, an internal garda audit has found.

It revealed that an average of just 44% of gardaí were in direct contact with the public. The latest annual report of An Garda Siochána’s audit committee expressed concern about the “low” level of gardaí performing frontline duties.

The committee pointed out that both the force’s Policing Plan and the Garda Inspectorate have highlighted the importance of ensuring that the maximum number of gardaí are assigned to high visibility policing duties with “direct contact with the public.” They also recommend that administrative roles should be undertaken by civil servants to the fullest extent possible.