The Irish Times view on the report on roads policing: a matter of life and death
and published yesterday
, makes for grim reading. At a time when road deaths have been rising, it paints a picture of an essential policing function hampered by weak management, inadequate resources and, in some quarters, a worrying absence of professional commitment.
The review found striking disparities in productivity between divisions, with some officers recording twice as many 'Lifesaver' detections - speeding, intoxicated driving, mobile phone use, and failure to wear seat belts – as others. While many gardaí in the Roads Policing Units are described as dedicated and effective, a minority are openly disengaged, sometimes to the point of disabling equipment or avoiding patrols altogether.
Underlying this, according to the report, is a flawed interpretation of the Garda's Performance, Accountability and Learning Framework (PALF), which is seen as preventing supervisors from monitoring individual performance. This, combined with fear of industrial relations fallout, has created a culture in which poor work habits go unchallenged.
The operational picture is equally troubling. Too much time is devoted to static checkpoints – often close to base and at predictable times – leaving remote areas under-patrolled and missing opportunities for intelligence-led enforcement. Vehicles and vital equipment are often outdated.
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These are not minor management quibbles; they are matters of life and death on the country's roads, and of public confidence in policing. The report recommends a transformation plan addressing supervision, staffing, training, equipment and operational priorities, led by a senior officer.
When new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly takes up office in September, he cannot let this report gather dust. Acting swiftly on its recommendations will be essential both to reversing the rise in road fatalities and to restoring public faith in the professionalism of the force. On the evidence presented, delay would not just be damaging – it would be dangerous.
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