Policing Authority clashes with Garda commissioner over anti-spit hoods 

The anti-spit hoods were introduced by Garda commissioner Drew Harris Harris to protect the health and safety of frontline members during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The Policing Authority and Garda commissioner Drew Harris have clashed over his decision to continue the Garda’s use of anti-spit hoods, which were introduced during the Covid-19 crisis.

The authority is particularly critical of the commissioner’s refusal to supply the authority with the views of the Garda’s new human rights adviser regarding the hoods, saying this breached a previous commitment to do so.