Garda Complaints - Public trust must not be abused
During the year there were 1,223 complaints, which was an increase of 8.6%. Those ranged from minor matters of discourtesy to complaints of excessive force being used, and even accusations of serious assault against specific gardaí.
The Complaints Board was unable to adjudicate on the merits of many complaints, because those amounted to one person’s version against the word of a garda, who told a very different story. In such instances there was nothing the board could do.