Large amounts of cash and drugs in Garda stores putting staff at risk, report finds 

Review said 'holding of large quantities of cash, drugs, firearms and ammunition presents a significant risk'.

Unnecessarily large amounts of cash are being kept in Garda exhibit stores and most fridges containing forensic exhibits and firearms are full, the Garda Inspectorate has said.

A review of an inspection the body carried out 10 years ago said one exhibit manager expressed fears for their safety because of the value of exhibits, including cash, held in storage.

A post-implementation review found that while recommendations they made in 2014 have been generally implemented, the Garda organisation was "not in a position to be able to account" for all items in its Property and Exhibits Management System (Pems).

The inspectorate said while the “vast majority” of drug exhibits checked in the four divisions they picked were stored correctly, a “small number” were unaccounted for.

In its original Crime Investigation Inspection in 2014, the Garda Inspectorate recommended the complete rollout of Pems across all divisions and an IT solution to record all property seized and keep track of its movements.

The review said the first recommendation was implemented, with the second one partially implemented.

The review, published jointly with the Policing Authority, examined Pems in four divisions: Donegal, Kerry, Laois/Offaly and Dublin West.

It found Pems managers — who are Garda civilian staff — were “very committed”.

The review highlighted a lack of training, with no Pems managers' course since 2019 and with just 18% of all gardaí having completed an online course.

It identified “a high number of cases” where items were checked out to members for significant periods of time with no clarity on why the item had been out for so long, or where it was stored during that time.

The review said: “The review team observed fridges containing forensic exhibits and cash and firearms storage arrangements. Most fridges were full, exhibits dated back several years, and no one was assigned overall responsibility for the management of them. Unnecessarily large amounts of cash were stored, some of which could be lodged in banks.” 

It said: “The holding of large quantities of cash, drugs, firearms and ammunition presents a significant risk.

“As indicated by the exhibit audit completed by the review team, items were missing from stores; without a full audit of items lodged in the store or in the possession of individual members, the Garda Síochána is not in a position to be able to account for all items in Pems.

“While reconciliation of property items in Pems stores should take place on a regular basis, the Garda Síochána needs to conduct an audit of all stores to account for all items in its possession.” 

“A Pems manager expressed concern about their personal safety given the value of exhibits, including money held in storage".

The team found different levels of security at the facilities, ranging from lock only to lock, keypad, and swipe access.

The team said some stores were “unsafe and unsuitable”, and there was often “a strong smell of drugs”.