Calls for better garda training to deal with domestic and sexual violence

The National Women’s Council and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have called for better garda training to deal with sexual and domestic violence.

A Garda Inspectorate report detailed particular problems with attitudes towards domestic violence within the force, finding some complaints were treated as a waste of time.

The report found some members of the force displayed “negative attitudes” towards domestic violence by referring to calls as problematic, time-consuming and a waste of resources.

Robert Olson, Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána, said “The whole issue of domestic violence needs to be thoroughly reviewed. We had about 11,000 domestic violence incidents and there were only 287 cases where somebody got arrested. That needs to be looked at very closely, we’re concerned about that.”

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) said the findings of the report “has shown a glaring need for a thorough review into how domestic and sexual violence is investigated by An Garda Siochana”.

Rachel Doyle, Head of Outreach at NWCI said:“It is inconceivable that for the vast majority of women who have taken the extremely difficult first step in reporting the devastating crime of domestic violence, their cases have not been followed up on.”

Eilis Ni Chaithnia, Human Rights and Health Worker at NWCI said that the statistics show that the prevalence of domestic violence in Ireland.

“One in five women will be abused by an intimate male partner, and there have been 204 women killed in Ireland since 1996, the majority of them in their own homes, over half by a partner or ex-partner,” said Ms Ni Chaithnia.

Ms Doyle said the report cannot be “another footnote in the history of State’s institutions failing vulnerable women.”

“While the Garda Inspectorate has stated the commitment and outstanding work of the vast majority of Gardai, clearly all Gardai need ongoing training in dealing with domestic and sexual violence cases, at all levels of the force. A disinterest or lack of empathy is unacceptable,” she said.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive of the The Dublin Rape Crisis Centresaid that she welcomed the Inspectors conclusion that the investigation of serious sexual offences can be performed by all frontline gardai or those with little experience with such offences.

“A rape investigation is often complex and requires good investigative skills to obtain independent corroborative and forensic evidence. Not only is it unprofessional from the perspective of the victim’s rights but it is unfair on the inexperienced garda who has no specialist training in this area.

The DRCC welcomed the recommendations that the Garda Siochana implement victim centred policy and good investigative practices in rape and other sexual offences .

She added that the DRCC have provided input into the initial training of gardai in Templemore in the past but has not happened over the past number of years because of the cut to funding.

“Ad hoc training while it has its benefits is not good enough. There needs to be a policy commitment to specialist training particularly when it comes to sexual offences,” she said.