Call to put civilians in Garda Press Office
The Garda Press Office should be made up of civilians to get gardaí behind desks back on the beat, it was claimed today.
The Government announced it has set up a new working group to examine recruiting more civilians within the force.
They would free up gardaí in administrative and support posts, including officers who staff public counters at garda stations and act as drivers for Government ministers.
Opposition justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe criticised the slow pace of the programme however, claiming that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell should begin with the Garda Press Office.
He said: “I don’t know what Templemore Training College or chasing criminals teaches you about being a press officer and dealing with the media.
“There are up to 15 gardaí and one civilian in the press office when it should be the other way round.”
“It makes no sense to have trained and experienced gardaí officers tied to their desks in this manner when they could be engaged in front-line policing duties.”
The Government’s new working group is expected to look into the issue in the autumn.
A spokesman said: “The Government has decided that a working group will be established to examine civilianisation within an Garda Síochana and further details will be available in the autumn.”
The decision was approved by the Cabinet at yesterday’s special meeting in Avondale House in Co Wicklow.
A 1998 report by consultants hired by Garda management found that 643 garda posts could be manned by members of the public to free up officers for policing work.
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