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AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA are beginning the rollout of a new uniform this week, with over 13,000 Gardaí set to receive the updated uniform during the rollout.
The new uniform is set to be operational before the end of March, with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris expected to announce a formal ‘go-live’ date.
All uniform members of An Garda Síochána are set to receive the updated uniform across all Garda divisions in over 560 Garda stations nationwide.
The Dublin region is set to receive the uniform first under the rollout, before being expanded to other Garda regions.
The new uniform consists of:
The current Garda cap will remain in operation as a “unique and distinctive element’ of the Garda uniform, while shirts and ties are set to be dropped.
Policies around wearing official headwear for religious and cultural reasons had previously been updated, allowing turbans, kufis, topis, kippahs or hijabs.
Sources have said that, from the outset, quality over the cost was the priority when deciding on the new uniform.
The updated uniform was a key recommendation within the report on the Future of Policing in Ireland, and will be the third time in a century of operation that the uniform has been updated.
Garda Representative Organisation President, Frank Thornton said that while members have not yet received the uniform, feedback from pilot divisions had been positive.
“While our members have yet to receive delivery of the new uniforms, the feedback from the divisions where it has been piloted has been positive,” said Thornton.
“The Garda Representative Association would welcome any moves to make our uniforms more comfortable as well as practical, progressive and suitable to modern policing.”
It has also been welcomed by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), saying that the group had lobbied for a new uniform for years.
“This new uniform will be embraced by members who feel it will be more suited to outdoor frontline duties,” said the AGSI in a statement.
“The Association also welcomes the retention of the traditional uniform for formal occasions.”
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My father told me years ago, if you can’t say something nice then don’t say anything at all.
@KMC: i couldnt agree more….
@KMC: your daddy was a very clever man. .
@Bala mc blaha: and I’m guessing not a regular on TheJournal comments
@Crocodylus Pontifex: haha True.
Did a Star Trek fan design these?
@Colm A. Corcoran: Was just going to say the same thing.
Operations division colours.
@Colm A. Corcoran: Beam me up tinkie winkie.
Great. Now sort the judicial system out.
@John Sheahan: lol make the judges wear saris haha
@Anna Carr: They probaly do already at the Lodge.
Amazing – where O’Neils meets the discount aisle in Lidl.
To quote a fellow commentator
Reform the judiciary
@O’Brien: brilliant. You hit that nail right on the head. My hubby has about 6 pairs of those trousers hahaha
@O’Brien: more dubs supporters nice colour for the country folk ,
The old uniform were unfit for purpose and these are a much more modern comfortable design.
Its hi vis, its got reflective parts and its lightweight and warm.
@Gary Kearney: should have a couple of flashing lights on them too so they could be more visible in the dark… hi-vis is no good unless a light is shining on them!
@Declan Edward: Well hopefully when you drive at night you have your lights on.
@Gary Kearney: oink oink
Does anybody have the number for the fashion police?
@Graham Purtell: you know that joke is part of the story, right?
Tracksuit
Jesus that looks bad.
@Sean Stevenson: hope the away kit is better.
I first read Operational trousers as optional…
Why does the hats always look to be perched precariously on their heads? Are they badly fitting or is it due to Garda having larger than average sized heads?
@Bananaquit: you have answered your own question
The traditional cap looks out of place with this
Emmm…. I don’t know…. They look sort of de-authoritative… Sort of like extreme sports people or something. I can’t put my finger on it…but ewwww
@Anna Carr: ya, it looks cheap. Like going to sports day event
They should be a dress uniform for formal occasions too.
@Matt: there is
And they say the gaa has no influence on the gardas
@Daniel Curtin: Make your point!
@john gavin: He just did, ‘shiny happy tracksuits’ and all that…
Going to be difficult to tell the Garda from the defendants in court.
@Gavin Linden: hahaha brilliant!
@john gavin: he just did, miss that did you!
These are far better looking than the old ones. Bye bye shirt and tie.
I know a guard that said he’d wait for the away strip.
@Leonard O’mahony: rotfl lol
Now they should do the same for school uniforms – shirt and especially the tie are pointless in modern times.
@Sara McS:
I think that it’s up to the school. When my daughter was at a girls only school, a good few years ago now, herself and a few of her friends successfully petitioned the school board to drop the ties and adopt a lapel type shirt.
It’s been in use ever since and looks way smarter, especially on girls.
Like the copper from balamory
Sport mode: ON
The Gardai are stern ……….. stern but fair.
Where can you buy them? Asking for a pal
good to see public funds put to such worthwile projects.
They look a lot like Dutch police uniforms. That hat now looks a bit ridiculous though
Anyone know the name Designer/Design House putting their name to this set?
@Dublin 7: Adidas
Love to see bán Garda back in skirts, my first arrest, so time ago now
Less stasi like and more in the vane social supporters
About time..
They kind of remind me of those beacons you get at Disney on ice. All dark with the flashy light but on top.
0118 999 881 999 119 725 3
@Rory Jennequin: you bet me to it. How many will get it though lol?
Je.sus, Mary & Joseph and the little donkey….
@FerucaSalt: The donkey designed them!
The comments have me howling!
Smart, modern and practical, about time.
Was chatting a guard a few years ago and he said the shoes were the biggest problem because it was impossible to run and from what I can make out the shoes are the same :-/
Ah! Madness – Baggy Trousers, I would advise not to wear during love sharing. Because they will see you ……. I will get my coat.
it’s about time….the amount of counterfeit Garda uniforms out there is horrendous. random stop and search no more.
have your say