Some gardaí ‘unproductive' and ‘disinterested' in roads policing, report reveals
While the independent review of Roads Policing found that a majority of Garda members involved in the work were productive and professional, it highlighted issues with poor productivity and behaviour among a 'noticeable' minority.
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The Crowe Report said members who were 'disinterested' in the job were able to 'get away with such behaviour' to the 'frustration' of their colleagues, supervisors and managers.
The review by consultancy firm Crowe was commissioned by the Garda amid an increased focus on road safety in Ireland in recent years.
The Government recently introduced new speed laws, and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has mandated that frontline gardaí dedicate 30 minutes of road policing duties per shift.
The review assessed the effectiveness of the Garda's Roads Policing Units (RPUs). Its findings are based on visits to RPUs within six Garda divisions in Ireland.
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It concluded there is currently a lack of 'effective sanctions' for poor performance, with supervisors and managers 'typically apprehensive' that any attempt to sanction a garda would create industrial relations problems with the Garda Representative Association (GRA).
The report said the heart of the problem appeared to lie in the interpretation of the Garda's Performance, Accountability and Learning Framework (Palf) – with the policy thought to be inhibiting Garda supervisors and managers from 'proactively managing' and evaluating the performance of individual RPU members.
An immediate review of the Palf is one of several recommendations made by the reviewers.
They said a more effective reporting and governance structure for RPU may also need to be considered by the Garda.
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The report found no evidence of a systematic, organised culture of work avoidance or deliberately poor performance within Roads Policing and also found no evidence of bullying or dominance of RPU members by their colleagues.
Ireland
Gardaí who disregard roads policing 'letting colle...
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However, it said the absence of 'effective supervision and management' – caused in 'large measure' by the interpretation of the Palf policy – had resulted in a culture of concerning work practices taking root.
The report also highlighted issues with significant numbers of vacancies within RPUs, with numbers down by 40 per cent on 2009.
The review said there also appeared to have been a lack of investment in vehicles and equipment in recent years.
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