Garda reserve recruits to begin training

The first batch of recruits for the controversial Garda Reserve will begin training today.

Some 6,661 people applied to join the part-time force and 40 will start drills this morning at the Garda College in Templemore.

The roll-out of the Garda Reserve, first proposed in July 2005, is still opposed by the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

Garda Reserves will support full time officers with station duty, communications, foot patrols, static security duty, event policing, road traffic checkpoints, collisions, fires, major emergencies, community/neighbourhood policing, preserving crime scenes and attending court as witnesses.

“Reservists will not be deployed in plain clothes, carry firearms or drive Garda vehicles,” a Garda spokesman said.

“Duties and powers assigned to Garda Reserves will be commensurate to their training and will primarily involve legislation relating to road traffic, public order, drugs, theft and burglary. Garda Reserves will be permitted limited access to the Pulse computer system.”

Recruits will undergo two days training at the Garda College followed by a total of 57 hours classroom-based training at assigned stations.

Further two-day drills will be scheduled in November followed by 40 hours on-the-job training at station level.

The first intake of Garda Reserves will graduate on December 16 and will be subject to a probationary period of two years.

Five initial pilot areas have been selected for the Garda Reserve: Anglesea Street, Cork, Galway (Millstreet), Sligo, Store Street and Pearse Street, Dublin.

A Garda Reserve will be required to work a minimum of 208 hours per year, with minimum tour durations of four hours.

After completing all five phases of training for the first intake of the Garda Reserve, the entire process will be subject to an in-depth review and any adjustments required will be made before further recruitment.

Mr McDowell said today: “An Garda Siochana is undergoing huge reform; it is being transformed into a modern, fully accountable and transparent professional police service, and I believe the success of this campaign reflects the public’s acknowledgement of this reality.”