Gardaí trialling new-look baseball caps as part of uniform upgrade

One hundred officers in Bantry, Co Cork, Terenure in Dublin, and Ballinasloe, Co Galway, have been chosen to take part in the two-week trial

The pilot will include two sample caps: a soft baseball cap and a ‘bump stop’ cap. Pictures: An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána is trialling a new-look hat for its members as of Wednesday.

The pilot will include two types of baseball cap: a soft cap and a 'bump stop' cap which offers better protection.

One hundred officers in Bantry, Co Cork, Terenure in Dublin, and Ballinasloe, Co Galway, have been chosen to take part in the trial.

Following the pilot programme, An Garda Síochána will seek feedback from the public as well as Garda representative groups.

Former Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy has said that he is not a fan of the more casual look Gardaí are sporting.

He said that a garda uniform is important in how they project their authority.

"A baseball hat doesn't work at all for me and I think we are going down a certain road," Mr Leahy said.

"We can see the trajectory that we have been following the last number of years and it is becoming more and more casual."

Following the pilot programme, An Garda Síochána will seek feedback from the public as well as Garda representative groups.

This latest uniform update follows the introduction of new jackets and polo shirts last summer, which was met with a mixed reaction from the public.

At that time, the decision was made not to change the official headwear as it was considered a "unique and distinctive element of the Garda uniform".

The Garda uniform policy includes the wearing of official headwear for religious or cultural reasons and includes turban, kufi, topi, kippah, or hijab.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the current cap is viewed by many members as old-fashioned.

Several members have expressed a desire to introduce a cap that is more suitable or compatible with the new operational uniform which was introduced last year.

The new uniforms introduced in 2022 cost in the region of €15m over three years.

If the baseball caps replace the traditional cap, it will mark the fourth formal upgrade of the Garda uniform in 100 years.