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GARDAÍ ARE AFRAID to speak out about malpractice within the force as to do so could harm their careers, according to a new in-depth study of our national police force.
An Garda Síochána today published the findings of its Cultural Audit. The report was independently conducted by PwC on behalf of gardaí and responded to by 6,500 across the organisation.
The audit found that:
Acting Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin said the detailed report has given management “great insights and information”.
“The audit is an incredible resource for us. I want to thank our people for honestly giving their deeply held views of the organisation. The findings from the audit will help inform the Garda organisation in providing the best supports to our people so as to improve the service we provide to the public.”
The acting commissioner conceded that supervision within the force, especially at the rank of sergeant, is something which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. He also urged those who wish to speak out about malpractice to do so and promised that they would be protected.
Ó Cualáin added: “The audit makes it clear that we have a lot more work to do to reform our culture to meet the needs of our people, which should then result in an improved service to the public.
“For example, as managers, there needs to be greater engagement with the people working for us so they have a clear understanding what is expected from them in delivering a professional policing service.
“I completely agree with the need expressed in the audit to increase our supervisory ranks, particularly at Sergeant level. At a time when we are bringing in so many new Gardaí, we need Sergeants to provide them with proper supervision, mentoring and support.
On speaking up within An Garda Síochána, the organisation has improved from Garda personnel coming forward on issues, and we would encourage and support anyone who wishes to speak up in the future. Based on the Cultural Audit though we have more work to do in this area.
“To strengthen our approach, we are currently reviewing our Protected Disclosures Policy in conjunction with our colleagues from the PSNI and additional Protected Disclosure Managers were appointed in December 2017.”
No surprises in that report….. But I’d say that’s Where the story ends…. In 20 year’s time there will be another similar report…… nothing will change.
@Sean Leonard: Be a bit more positive Sean. This is the first time I have seen a proper insight into what the rank and file think. A new commissioner should now be brought in from abroad, with no baggage, and allowed 3 to 5 years to change the culture.
@kevin: this is a good suggestion
Where was their solidarity with maurice mc cabe ,they had their chance and stuck their heads in the sand .not impressed .
@Anthony Gallagher: He might have been very unpopular before any of this started, In every company there’s always someone in the office that everyone hates and maybe he was that guy…as in “oh God here comes that gowl again”
@Fergus Sheahan: an idiotic and dangerous comment.
@Shane McGrath: Dangerous how? sharp edges? flammable? slippy when wet? I just said that he might have been unpopular in the station and in Garda circles, I of course don’t know this is true or untrue but either do you
@Fergus Sheahan: I never judge a person on their personality ,none of us are perfect ,my father gave me good advice when i was a young man ,never look up to anyone and never look down on anyone ,treat everyone as your equal .mc cabe was hung out to dry because he believed in decency ,integrity and above all the rule of law ..no democratic society can function without respect for the rule of law .its a pity this brave man had to be totally humiliated and belittled for protecting the very thing in society that was enshrined to protect us all .
@Anthony Gallagher: of course you judge people on their personalities! How else would you decide on whether you liked or disliked someone
@Fergus Sheahan: has some level of argument until your communion pic amplified idiocy! Should have used neither too btw seeing as you’re highly sanctimonious
@Chicinho: just one more thing you low rent Colombo its not a Communion picture
@Anthony Gallagher: How very convienient for them, if you know about corruption and do nothing about it then imo you are part of the same thing.Uphold and enforce the law its what you are paid for otherwise walk away.
@Fergus Sheahan: Where did you get that awesome intellect? Are you just gifted or did you have to work at it?
@Virtual Architect: i stopped using words like “”awesome” for a start as i am not a teenager in America in a 1980′s sitcom
It’s a click just like RTE. getting bankrolled by the public for their own ends.
This is how it is EVERYWHERE….the bigger the company/organization the worse it is.Its not how good you do your job.Its if your buddies with the boss.And if you play the cover up game all the better…Bring up what wrong you get ostracized.
It’s time to retire the Garda and come up with a new completely restructured police force for a modern Ireland, a police force that will respect the opinions of the lowest ranking members to a police force that will have total community respect and trust in all walks of Irish society, in its current form I do not have any faith in them.
When there is no accountability anywhere regarding politicians, how can we expect other public servants to behave any better.
@Patabake Kennedy: you are talking nonsense It’s up to every member in the force to stand up like that good man McCabe and stop hiding behind I won’t get promotion if I talk up. This is the reason the cop bullies at the top are holding on to power
Little did we know that when front line Gards requested stab proof vests, it was for the knives in the back.
Silence through scare tactics. The gov and the HSE tried to keep Vicky Phelan quiet. It’s the disgraceful culture in the shambolic system. But the people ain’t scared by these shameful gombeen tactics any more.
It sums up Ireland for you a little boys club.
whistle blower Protection legislation must be adequate for people to speak out and Garda must be put as a priority even if it means a finance or promotion incentive
Fear within the Gardai !!!! …..which they then spread outside the farce by way of corruption, negligence, incompetence, perjury, criminally and worst of all is the institutional silence about all of those things…..McCabe & Wilson are heroes against the fallen, falling and failing institution….
In a nutshell: the individual Garda thinks he’s much better than the organisation he works for. Try this in your own organisation and shake a stick at the similarities…
We needed PwC to tell us this?????? FFS
@Damien O’Cáthail: __ It’s a safe bet to say that it must have cost the tax-payer more than a fiver.
@Ted Murray: who do PWC know??????
The Gardai were always promotion driven They don’t have their shiny new hat on their head after coming out of Templemore when they are talking about promotion so now they don’t want to point the finger They should support people like McCabe If this is their attitude they might as well forget about a union as each and every member will be required to stand up and point the finger when something is not right.
Some things never change,fair play to the gda that stood up.
Rotten to the core, needs external leadership urgently!! Corruption is the modus operandi, it’s actually quite depressing in a constitutional democracy to have such a force.
Our country would be so much better and so much safer at every level with a complete overhaul of our judiciary and police force, it’s why we have such corrupt politics and banking, as the people who should have our backs are part of the problem and we have a judiciary so out of touch with reality that they focus on the perpetrators of crime, not the victims…incredibly sad…
@Chris Donnelly: rant much? If it was “rotten to the core” this report would state everything is fine and dandy. Those on criticising Gardai don’t seem to realise this report reflects the opinion of ……. Gardai!
Sounds like a few multinationals I worked in. Seems to go with large organizations
There needs to be a whistleblower legislation passed in the dail and an independant whistleblower agency setup where people can goto without fear.
I would imagine had this report been done in the majority of companies the world over the findings would be pretty much the same, Whether it was a public sector or private sector report.
Newly reconstructed police force, new government and get rid of this one sided out of date state television, the country needs a revamp, seems the country also is held to ransom by guards, teachers and farmers crying all the time poor me and my big income
It is impossible that the political parties will ever relinquish their complete and total political control of the Garda. Why would they? Who will make them? Just as an example, woe betide any Garda who crosses a councillor. A councillor!
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