28-04-2025
Drew Harris has ‘legacy of fear & mistrust' with rank-and-file gardai as GRA blast top cop for ‘failed' policing model
DREW Harris has left a 'legacy of fear and mistrust' with rank-and-file members, frontline gardai insist.
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GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris left 'a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members'
Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
And they say he has 'failed' to implement policies recommended by the Commission on Future Policing.
The Commissioner will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire.
Speaking ahead of the conference kicking off today, GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said: 'If you were to analyse the Commissioner's term I suppose you'd have to say that he's implemented an operational policing model that is not working.
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'Single-handedly he has removed community policing from Ireland, the system we had, that's completely gone.
'He's had the biggest budget available to him over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and retention within the force.
'I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in force when the Commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially.
'He's responsible for the application of a severe discipline and suspension policy which has hampered our members in utilising or being confident in the use of force when doing their job.
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'I suppose you could say that he's left a legacy of fear and mistrust in relation to our members.'
James Morrisroe, the GRA's Deputy General Secretary, insists that the Operating Policing Model is simply not working.
'FAILED UK MODEL'
The association, which represents over 11,000 rank and file gardai, want an immediate review of the divisional system which was introduced in 2019.
Morrisroe said: 'The operational policing model is a failed
'So, it's based on the commission of future police. And seven years ago, the blueprint going forward, when Commissioner Harris took up his role, was commission of future policing.
'I went through that, and I looked through it, and the operation policing model as it is now is anything but what was recommended in that.
HARRIS STATEMENT
'I wonder what the authors of the Commissioner of Future Policing who put a lot of time and effort into it, think of the current system that's in place.'
In a statement, Commissioner Harris said: 'Not withstanding the decision of the GRA Central Executive Committee to not invite me to the Annual Delegate Conference, I remain, as always, open to productive and fruitful engagement with all the Staff Associations, particularly at Annual Conferences, which offer an unparalleled opportunity for professional and respectful engagement.'
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Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will finish up in his role in September, when he is due to retire
Credit: PA
