Concern over reserve training standard

The first head of the new Garda Síochána Inspectorate has raised concerns about the adequacy of training for recruits to the new Garda Reserve force.

Former Boston police commissioner Kathleen O'Toole, in her first interview since being appointed here, also said she was surprised no member of the force had been dismissed following the Morris and Barr tribunal reports.

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Ms O'Toole, chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, said the force would "have to change" in a number of areas. Her inspectorate has been meeting police officers around the State since her appointment in May.

"Generally speaking, there seems to be a very receptive attitude," she said. "Most people are very enthusiastic about the role of the inspectorate, hoping that we can help bring them beyond this very difficult time that they have been through lately. I think there's a real inclination towards change.

"Now I'm not naive enough to think we'll always please everyone. I think we'll go in, we'll conduct inspections, we'll call it as we see it. We'll be fair and objective in our work but at the end of day I'm sure we'll make recommendations from time to time that don't please everyone."

There was "room for improvement" in An Garda Síochána. "If you look what's happened here in the past five to 10 years - the environment has changed dramatically in Ireland and with that the police have to change. And that coupled with the tribunals that have taken place - but I hope that this is a new day."

She said she was not yet sure whether reforms instituted by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, in the wake of the Morris and Barr reports, were adequate.

"We will definitely be looking at that because the integrity of a police department is at the foundation of the organisation." There was "no doubt" there were management weaknesses.

Asked whether she was surprised no officer had been dismissed after publication of those reports she said: "I was surprised by that because I compared it to our situation in America. Unfortunately we too have had corruption scandals in Boston and most major cities in the US and we have learned that we have to address them head on."

Her team was not asked to look at the Garda Reserve force, she said. However, it was important that recruits were vetted properly and their roles clearly defined. In this context she queried whether their 14-week training was adequate.

"I think the level of training depends directly on what they're expected to do . . . If someone is sitting behind a desk stamping passports that's one thing. If someone's out on a beat performing a patrol service that's very different. I would say if someone is going out to perform a full-fledged police function, more than 14 weeks would be required."

She said, however, that replacing gardaí with civilians so that more gardaí could go out into the field would benefit the force.

The gardaí may one day have to be armed, she added.