Head of Policing Authority hopeful whistleblowers are treated better with new code of ethics

The head of the Policing Authority has said she is hopeful a new Garda code of ethics can ensure whistleblowers are treated better.

The draft released this week includes a clause that means members of the gardaí will have to highlight wrongdoing in the force.

Members of the public are being asked to make submissions on the draft code.

Helen Hall, CEO of the Policing Authority, hopes it will make things better for whistleblowers within the force: “There's a lot of things that have to happen I suppose to change that.

“But I suppose with the modernisation of the Garda Siochána and the commitment we have heard from the commissoner to change and her staff in our dealings with them.

“And then coupled with the fact that the new thing is policing authority there is now to oversee on behalf of the citizen so it is a big change and I would be optimistic in the coming years.”