The good news is that members of An Garda Síochána are regarded as friendly and helpful by an overwhelming majority of citizens. The bad news is that fewer than half believe they are well managed, while serious doubts exist concerning their effectiveness in tackling crime. It is the profile of a highly-regarded public service that requires fundamental internal change.
Indiscipline, cover-ups and a culture of secrecy have damaged the image of the force but it took a direction from the new Policing Authority to expose details of a highly critical survey of garda management; the treatment of victims and the perceived effectiveness of policing. A senior garda expressed "surprise" at the findings.
That beggars belief. Positive aspects of the survey were widely used by his colleagues at recent public events while the findings of earlier surveys, discontinued in 2008, would – if published – have rung alarm bells.
A cherry-picking approach to a process designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Garda Síochána is not acceptable. It reflects a traditional relationship between the Department of Justice and the gardaí and an anxiety not to upset governments with uncomfortable news. Reform, however, requires transparency, along with a determination to put an end to bungling work practices, managerial incompetence and institutional defensiveness.
The public image of an unarmed, friendly and helpful policeman is to be cherished. But it is threatened by the manner in which victims of crime are treated and by managerial incompetence. Male victims of crime were particularly dissatisfied with how their cases were dealt with and there was a suggestion of social bias in views expressed by different income groups.
Wealthy victims were happier with their treatment than poorer ones and there was an urban/rural divide. Satisfaction with the policing of local communities was lowest in Dublin where, in the light of drug-related gangland murders, crime was seen as a very serious problem. These issues must be addressed.