Assaults on gardaí rise by almost 20%  

Following the Dublin riots, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said new legislation would make body-worn cameras available to gardaí from this spring. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Assaults on gardaí surged last year, with 409 incidents, compared to 343 in 2022 and 223 back in 2020.

The sharp increase coincides with a rise in resignations from the force, which have gone from 69 in 2020 to 169 in 2023.

Garda representatives have said that the level and threat of violence facing gardaí on duty have increased over the years and that this has contributed to members deciding to leave the organisation, often after just a relatively short period in the job.

The official figure on the number of assaults, categorised as an occupational injury, is contained in the December report of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.

In the full year 2023, there were 409 assaults, which is 66 more than in 2022, an increase of 19%.

There were 266 assaults in 2021 and 223 in 2020, meaning the number of instances has jumped by 83% in four years.

The dangers faced by gardaí on duty were caught on mobile phone cameras during the Dublin riots last November, when 12 gardaí were injured, including one who had his toe amputated following an attack.

The monthly report shows that 169 gardaí resigned in 2023, compared to 108 in 2022, 95 in 2021, and 69 in 2020.

Dublin riots

Following the Dublin riots, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said new legislation would make body-worn cameras available to gardaí from spring 2024, which would offer some protection from assaults and threats of violence.

In addition, Mr Harris said he would be providing stronger pepper spray to all gardaí and Taser stun guns to public order units.

The monthly report also shows that Garda overtime shot up to almost €184m last year, compared to €130m in 2022, €114m in 2021, and €98m in 2020.

The 2023 total includes around €20m for the visit of US president Joe Biden and an extra €10m allocated by Ms McEntee last July after violent and fatal attacks in Dublin city centre.

The minister told the Dáil last December that overtime costs for the increased presence of gardaí in Dublin city centre over Christmas and the new year would come from the 2024 overtime budget allocation of €131m.

The overtime bill has jumped by almost €86m in four years (€66m excluding the Biden visit), an increase of 88%.

This compares to a reduction, albeit much smaller, in the number of gardaí.

At the end of 2023, there was a total strength of 13,988, which compares to 14,133 in 2022, 14,235 in 2021, and 14,491 at the end of 2020.

This translates to 503 fewer gardaí, at all ranks, than four years ago, down 3.5%.

The trend is even worse at the frontline rank of ‘garda’, with 684 fewer members, down 6%.

This reduction happened when the population of Ireland increased, from 4.985m in 2020 to 5.057m in 2023, an increase of 1.4%.

President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) Brendan O'Connor said the number of assaults was "extremely concerning."

He noted: "The number of assaults on Gardaí continues to increase year on year which is extremely concerning for the association.

"We have seen initiatives and a focus of resources in reaction to increases in other crimes so the question has to be asked whether Garda victims are less of a priority than other victims of crime. 

"More can be done to provide a safer environment with the provision of equipment and training but we also need to see a focus on the welfare of members who have been assaulted to ensure they feel supported and valued by An Garda Siochána.

"Access to occupational health services remains a challenge both in terms of the financial impact on members who cannot perform duty and also supporting their return to work when they have recovered from physical and psychological injuries as a result of being subjected to what can be viscous and traumatic attacks."