Frontline gardaí fear 'perfect storm' over staffing crisis

Gda Ferris said members were under “more or less constant attack from criminals who seem to have no fear of the law” and said assaults on members were up 20% on last year

Detective Garda Mark Ferris said: “We see resignations now running at record levels. There has been an increase of almost 170% from 2017 figures.” 

Rank-and-file gardaí are concerned that the Garda organisation is in the midst of a “perfect storm” caused by a recruitment and retention crisis, a frontline garda representative has said.

Garda Mark Ferris said that, in addition, members on the ground were under “more or less constant attack” from criminals, reflected in what he said was a 20% increase in assaults.