Gardaí say lack of resources causing spike in injuries
It says the use of tasers should now be seriously examined as a deterrent, as well as body cameras.
Figures released by the Department of Justice show that 5,417 gardaí have been injured while on duty since 2005 — a further five have been killed.
A year-by-year breakdown reveals that the number of injuries sustained has increased significantly. In 2009, there were 358 instances (as well as two deaths). In 2011, the figure was up to 424. The total was 517 injuries and one death in 2013; there were 630 injuries in 2014; and 631 injuries and one death in 2015.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald provided the figures to party colleague Bernard Durkan in a parliamentary question.
President of the GRA, Garda Ciarán O’Neill said: “No one should expect to be injured as part of their job, yet this has become an unacceptable occupational hazard. These figures show the perils gardaí face on a daily basis. We have no idea what lies ahead of us when we arrive at work every day. It’s clear that those responsible have no respect for the law or members of An Garda Síochána.”
In the run-up to the election in 2007, he noted all parties were consistent in calling for 16,000 gardaí to police the country. “We now have around 12,000 members available for duty — 25% below the levels suggested almost 10 years ago,” he said.
The GRA president said there are 2,500 fewer gardaí since 2010 as a result of the recruitment freeze and through retirements, long-term illness, and incentivised career breaks.
“This equates to around one in six of all gardaí, with around five million policing hours lost every year,” he said. “This unacceptable drop in Garda numbers is set to continue on for the next 18 months as 700 members of the force face mandatory retirement. A new recruitment campaign has begun but these new recruits will simply fill the gap left by those facing mandatory retirement.
“It’s vital that the use of tasers is seriously examined as a deterrent for use by frontline members working 24/7. Furthermore, the Garda Representative Association believes that the use of body-worn cameras may act as a deterrent.”
The GRA is currently planning industrial action in November over pay levels. It has argued that, as its members are the only public sector workers required to wear stab vests to work or carry personal protection equipment as a matter of course, gardaí should be treated differently to other public sector workers.
