Staffing problems hitting key Garda units

Staffing problems are hitting garda armed support units, the national fraud unit, divisional squads tasked with investigating sexual and domestic crimes, and regional cyber crime units.

A report by the Policing Authority said that despite progress in recording sexual and domestic violence – including ten incidents of the new offence of “coercive control” - only a fifth of domestic abuse victims were getting a personal call back within seven days of the offence.