Irish society harbours significant mistrust of the force that polices it, reports Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent
The categories of people who have least confidence in the Garda Síochána are those who probably have most contact with members of the force on the beat. They are young, male, single, urban dwellers and working class.
This Irish Times/TNS mrbi opinion poll was taken a few weeks after a Prime Time programme sparked substantial public debate on the behaviour of the Garda and the ability of the current complaints procedure to deter, detect and punish misbehaviour. A retired Circuit Court Judge, Mr Anthony Murphy, said gardaí had committed perjury in his court. Minister of State Mr Dick Roche said gardaí had mistreated an 18-year-old constituent of his in a manner that was "tantamount to torture".
Meanwhile, the chairman of the current Garda Complaints Board, Mr Gordon Holmes, told The Irish Times a few weeks ago that public confidence in the Garda was at, or near, an all-time low. While the majority of members of the Garda were "first class", the public perception was that officers who behaved less than honourably were not being adequately investigated and punished.
There is widespread anecdotal evidence from young urban males of heavy-handed Garda behaviour during routine street policing. This is no doubt linked to the fact that a higher than average proportion of street crime comes from young urban males.
This opinion poll confirms that it is this category more than any other that has a low level of trust in the Garda. However a police force which has just a 60/40 majority of those with confidence in its fairness and impartiality over those with no confidence in it has a serious problem.
Nationally, 58 per cent have confidence in the force, 37 per cent do not and 5 per cent have no opinion. However the confidence in the force is concentrated disproportionately in rural areas and among older people. The Garda representative bodies have said the press coverage suggesting there is a significant element to the force which is involved in heavy-handedness and other misbehaviour is unfair.
However the poll shows that this perception that there are serious problems in the force is widely shared.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, will be hoping that his new Garda Bill, to be published shortly, will help deal with this problem. The bill will set up an ombudsman or inspectorate to deal with complaints. This body is now expected to be given the power to initiate its own investigations without receiving complaints. It was reported recently in this newspaper that the investigators are expected to have the powers of gardaí to search and arrest, a key provision seen as giving the new body considerable authority.
This poll shows widespread public support for such powers to be given to the inspectorate. Some 86 per cent say it should have such powers, just 7 per cent that it should not and 7 per cent has no opinion.
Progressive Democrat voters have the most confidence in the force with 75 per cent saying they do and 25 per cent that they don't. However analysis of the vote of small parties such as the PDs is subject to a much greater margin of error than that of larger parties. Some 67 per cent of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael voters have confidence in the force. Among Fianna Fáil voters 28 per cent have no confidence and 5 per cent have no opinion. Among Fine Gael voters 29 per cent have no confidence and 4 per cent no opinion.
Among Labour voters 58 per cent have confidence in the Garda, 39 per cent do not ( 3 per cent no opinion). Among Green Party voters 37 per cent have confidence, 54 per cent do not (9 per cent no opinion). Among Sinn Féin voters 31 per cent have confidence, 63 per cent do not (6 per cent no opinion).