Gardaí resort to buying their own surveillance and protective equipment

Despite multiple gardaí being needled in the course of their work, the force's procurement office did not provide needle-proof gloves to protect the hands of gardaí during searches, sources say

The shortage in Garda numbers is impacting morale in the force. File picture

Gardaí are buying their own surveillance equipment, such as binoculars, and protective equipment, including slash-proof gloves, to avoid getting injured on duty because sourcing any through the State is too onerous.

After multiple gardaí were needled in the course of their work, the procurement office still did not provide needle-proof gloves for gardaí to wear to protect their hands during searches, sources say.