Garda 'must embrace' diversity, conference told

An Garda Síochána needs to embrace "cultural diversity" to become a modern police force in a multiethnic society, according to…

An Garda Síochána needs to embrace "cultural diversity" to become a modern police force in a multiethnic society, according to the chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Officers Association.

Addressing a conference on policing in a multiethnic society, Det Insp George Rhoden said An Garda  needed to "accept, appreciate and manage cultural differences" if it is to move from being a traditional police force to a modern one policing a multiethnic society.

The gardaí need to come out of the comfort zone and include ethnic minorities in any consultative process on community policing
Det Insp George Rhoden

He said he was surprised to find there were no cultural awareness or diversity when training gardaí.

Det Insp Rhoden said the London Metropolitan Police had learned the importance of reaching out and engaging with communities.

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"The gardaí need to come out of the comfort zone and include ethnic minorities in any consultative process on community policing," Dep Insp Rhoden told ireland.com.

He added it was important for An Garda Síochána to support mechanisms in place for new recruits from ethnic minorities so they did not feel "isolated".

Also addressing today's conference in Dublin, Aisling Reidy, director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, said: "Structural and cultural issues must be tackled. Some structural issues, such as unnecessary barriers to entry to An Garda Síochána, have been removed.

"Others, such as a lack of a complaints mechanism against discrimination by An Garda Síochána have still to be addressed. The cultural issues . . . will be more difficult to change but can be through positive, pro-active leadership from within the Garda," Ms Reidy said.