Garda superintendents are 'losing their links with local communities'

Association of Garda Superintendents president Colm Murphy. Picture: Superintendent.ie

Frontline garda managers have strongly criticised new geographical policing structures, saying they are being “forced through without consideration” of either the gardaí tasked with delivering them or local communities.

The Association of Garda Superintendents (AGS) will tell both the Minister of Justice and the Garda Commissioner today that the new merged garda divisions are “unworkable”.

In his address to their conference, association president Colm Murphy said superintendents are “losing their links with local communities” and with the gardaí under their supervision.

Rearranged and reduced divisions

Under the Operating Policing Model the number of garda divisions has been reduced from 28 to 21, with new merged divisions, such as one covering Louth/Cavan/Monaghan, another for Clare and Tipperary and, most recently, one for Cork West and Cork North.

In his address, which he will deliver to Helen McEntee and Drew Harris, Detective Superintendent Murphy said the model creates new processes, new structures, new responsibilities and additional demands “but unfortunately the same resourcing issues”.

He said: “Inadequate accommodation, making do with what we have and working within unworkable geographical configurations is continuing.

We are not against change, but change must be appropriately resourced in terms of funding, personnel, accommodation, and be future-proofed.

"Instead we have an idealistic, rushed, or forced-through model, without consideration of the impact on the people so tasked to deliver it and more importantly the communities we serve.” 

Det Supt Murphy said: “In Operating Policing Model Divisions, our members are losing the links with local communities and with their personnel.” 

He insisted the association would continue to engage positively on this issue, adding that “when we are listened to” progress can be made.

The conference will be the last AGS conference for Drew Harris, who is due to retire within the next year, and will be the last for Ms McEntee as the Minister for Justice in the current Government, with an election due before March.

The AGS president said the current limit on the number of superintendents, at 168, is “wholly inadequate, unsatisfactory and unacceptable”.

He said his members have an “ever increasing burden” on their shoulders, including dealing with an increased number of protests and incidents of public order policing.

Government's 'duty of care'

Det Supt Murphy said the AGS has made applications for psychological support and a ‘panel of friends’ structure.

He said the association has itself set up an ‘informed friends initiative’ which has been well received by members “dealing with very difficult situations”. But he said the government has a “duty of care” to his members: 

We are constantly sharing others’ problems and amassing our own. 

In addition, he said superintendents are available on a “24-hour, seven-day, all-year round basis”, without any additional cost to the Exchequer. He said they have been fighting for an ‘availability allowance’ since 2016 to reflect this work.

The president also called for legal indemnity cover to pay for legal costs when superintendents are taken to court.