With the drug drive testing roll out, Robert Block takes a look at the true effectiveness of drug driving enforcement The introduction of legislation to combat drug driving, namely the amendments found in the Road Traffic Act, 2016, is a significant conceptual evolution in how the gardaí tackle driving offences. Whereas the focus had primarily been on alcohol as […]
Gardaí have to consider the mental health of those they encounter every day – but what of their own mental well-being asks John O’Keeffe On a day-to-day basis, members of An Garda Síochána are tasked with the most onerous of jobs. We require them to be social workers, counsellors, psychologists and also police officers. They are routinely abused by a […]
Gardaí feel fear like everyone else; honing physiques and not considering the mental component is to miss the point, writes Aidan Carroll Many people take to the gym to practice techniques and lift weights in a bid to build a stronger physique. Whilst developing a faster punch and a chiseled six-pack, they often ignore the most important part of training; […]
The super recogniser could be the ultimate police weapon to fight crime writes John O’Keeffe. What’s your earliest memory? Sitting on your father’s knee at four years of age? Attending your second cousin’s confirmation as a kid? Perhaps it is something as mundane as being in a mobile home in Wexford with your parents as a five-year-old with rain pelting […]
It is well established that gardaí need to exercise exceptional mental resilience in their daily work writes Conor Nolan. Have no doubt about it, policing is a job for the mentally tough. It is widely acknowledged that members of An Garda Síochána are expected to deal with an increasing number of potentially traumatic incidents than at any time in recent […]
Understanding how criminal gangs come about and what motivates them is essential if they are to be eliminated writes John O’Keeffe. Dealing with gangs in Dublin and around the country is perhaps one of the biggest challenges facing gardaí in Ireland today. Their killings appear random and unplanned, their motivations scattered and incoherent. Yet men keep dying in hails of […]
After a lengthy public service embargo the competition is tough for promotion and lateral appointments. Sergeant Paul Franey presents a road map for success. The sergeants list was published in May; if your name wasn’t on the list it’s time to start planning the next stage in your career progression. Leaving it to luck, chance or a simple belief it […]
Dealing with the public is never an easy task; when you are a garda, further challenges can arise writes Karl Melvin. When dealing with the public it is imperative to remain calm and objective despite the overwhelming emotion that might be projected onto you as a garda. Exposure to intense levels of stress, psychological trauma, substance overload and/or societal pressures, […]
Forensic profiling is now at the cutting edge of police investigations – Sarah-Jane Winders investigates. The field of criminal profiling has fallen victim to pop-culture perceptions, through its frequent depictions in Hollywood movies, television series and novels. Professor David Canter, internationally renowned crime psychologist, stated that the real practice has become embroiled in the myth and reality depicted in the […]
The debate on firearms use has been ongoing since the establishment of the Garda Síochána writes Darren Martin. The Garda Síochána is predominately an unarmed uniformed police force which has served and protected its citizens through the early years of the State, emerging from the violent struggle post-independence, the establishment of the Free State, the civil war, the threats posed […]
