Garda Inspectorate report: main points

Deficiencies in systems and practices highlighted:

- Serious failures in the recording, classification and reclassification of crime incidents.

- Inconsistencies in the claiming of detections.

- A lack of oversight of the decision making process.

- No standardised crime management process for reviewing, allocating and monitoring of investigations and ensuring each investigation is effective.

- An absence of intrusive supervision of crime investigations.

- Inexperienced gardaí investigating serious crimes.

- A new roster that does not adequately support the investigative process.

- Concerns over the timeliness of investigations.

- Inconsistent approach to updating victims of crime.

- Foundation training provided pre-2014 for investigating crime does not adequately equip gardaí for the task.

- Lack of IT and equipment to support the investigation of crime.

- Deficiencies in offender management practices particularly in the taking of fingerprints.

Some of the key recommendations in the Garda Inspectorate report:

- Implement a new divisional model of delivering policing services including detective resources.

- Procure a Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD) that accurately records calls for service and efficiently uses available resources.

- Develop a new national crime investigation/records management system

- In the interim, take actions to improve the use of the PULSE incident recording system.

- Designate the Garda Information Service Centre (GISC) as the final decision maker in the classification of crime and for ensuring that detections are correctly recorded.

- Establish a crime management unit model on a divisional basis and include a system of Dedicated Decision Makers to decide on the classification of crime and approving the detection of a PULSE incident record.

- Develop new Crime Counting Rules for both recording and detecting crime in which the Central Statistics Office should have a central role.

- Introduce National Incident and Crime Recording Standards.

- Appoint a Force Crime Registrar with responsibility for accuracy and integrity of the recording of incidents and detections.

- Develop major incident investigation teams to investigate murders and other specified serious crimes.

- Implement systems to improve the quality of supervision of crime investigation.

- Improve the service and information provided to victims of crime.

- Develop and implement a technology based custody system.

- Improve investigative skills for gathering best evidence.

- Examine the whole process of fingerprinting and managing of persons detained in custody.

- Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the management of warrants and bail.