Letters to the Editor: Gardaí burned out by 12-hour shifts are unable to do proper policing

A garda writes that his wages aren’t enough for him to tolerate exhausting shifts, the constant demands and endless tasks that require sitting in front of a computer for hours at a time

'Policing should firstly and foremost be about the prevention and detection of crime, something apparently alien to the thoughts of inspectors and superintendents countrywide,' writes soon to be former garda Séamus Kelly. Picture: Dan Linehan

I’m a soon to be former garda at the point of leaving the organisation after almost 20 years of service; there are a number of issues driving me from my job.

The changes for new recruits implemented for all public servants in around 2013 ensured that people joining after that point would: