Policing Authority report: More evidence of dysfunction

If Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has not asked himself the what-am-I-doing-here question, this week’s report from the Policing Authority may move it from his ‘possible’ file to his ‘pressing’ file. The authority found a number of senior officers were unfamiliar with the policing plans for their areas. How can this be? The report also found that some managers were committed to these reforms, which raises another unpalatable question: Why is this two-tier response tolerated?

The authority also rejected a view, apparently widespread within the force, that the force is no more dysfunctional than any large organisation and that dissatisfaction is a legacy of austerity. The report expressed “considerable” concern with the continuing fall in crime-solving. There was a 20% fall in the number of motorists caught speeding, despite an additional 150 officers in the Roads Policing Unit.