URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

San Vicente West, Urdaneta City

College of Criminal Justice Education

COMPARATIVE MODELS OF POLICING

(IRELAND POLICING SYSTEM)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

a. Agency Name
b. Brief History and Origin of the Police Force
c. Police Organization’s Mission and Vision
d. Police Activities
e. Recruitment and Training
a. General Requirements/Minimum Qualifications
b. Screening Process
c. Promotion Opportunities (Men and Women)
d. Police Trainings
f. Police Units/Divisions
g. Police Organizational Structure
h. Police Model’s Ranks and it’s Equivalent PNP Ranks
i. Current Head of the Police Department
j. Reference/s

GROUP 7
Comparative Models of Policing/MTW 11:00-12:00
P146
Bachelor of Science in Criminology/2nd Year/ Block 4

SUBMITTED BY:
MANAOIS, PRINCE JOHN S.
ROSARIO, MILDRED D.
TIPAY, EMELIE L.

DATE REPORTED:

SUBMITTED TO:

Adeline H. Ellasos
CCJE Instructress
 Shield of An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána meaning "the Guardian of the Peace"), more commonly referred
to as the Gardaí ("Guardians") or "the Guards", is the police service of the Republic of
Ireland. The service is headed by the Garda Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish
Government. Its headquarters are in Dublin's Phoenix Park. The Garda Commissioner is
appointed by the Government of Ireland (Cabinet), on the recommendation of the Minister of
Justice and Equality.

Law Enforcement Agencies of Ireland

Military Police Corps

The Military Police Corps or Póilíní Airm (English: Army Police) is the corps of
the Irish Army responsible for the provision of policing service personnel and providing
a military police presence to forces while on exercise and deployment. Its tasks increase during
wartime to include traffic control organization and POW and refugee control. The Military Police
Corps are distinguished from other units by their wearing of a red beret. The Military Police
Corps enjoy a close working relationship with the Garda Síochána at both national and local
levels, with the Gardaí providing specialist training to the Corps in criminal investigation.

Airport and Harbour policing

Within Dublin Airport, Cork Airport, and Shannon Airport the Airport Police
Service (Irish: Póilíní an t-Aerfoirt), perform aviation policing functions. They are employed
by Dublin Airport Authority and authorised by the Minister of Transport. Within Dublin
Port and Dún Laoghaire Harbour, the Dublin Harbour Police and the Dún Laoghaire
Harbour Police (operated by the Dublin Port Company & Dún Laoghaire harbour company
respectively) perform a similar role to the Airport Police Service. The powers of these
organisations are limited to the airport/port buildings and grounds.

Revenue Customs

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners operate a customs service at all major ports
of entry to Ireland and are mandated to stop all illegal narcotics and firearms from entering the
state. Authorised officers have a wide range of powers including arrest under the Customs
Consolidation Act and Finance Act.

History

Organised Policing commenced in Ireland in 1822 with the foundation of the Irish
Constabulary. The title Royal Irish Constabulary was applied in 1867. In 1922 the Royal Irish
Constabulary was disbanded with the foundation of the Irish State. An Garda Síochána was
formed in February 1922. The Dublin Metropolitan Police, which had been founded in 1836, was
with An Garda Síochána in 1925.
An Garda Síochána is the national police service of Ireland with approximately 14,000 Garda
members, 2,500 Garda staff and 500 Garda Reserve members with a total workforce of 18,000
and are known to be predominantly unarmed police force, and more than three-
 quarters of the force do not routinely carry firearms. The mission of An Garda Síochána
is “To deliver professional policing and security service with the trust, confidence and support of
the people we serve”. An Garda Síochána is directed and controlled by the Garda
Commissioner. An Garda Síochána is unique among policing services internationally as a unitary
body responsible for the security of the State and the provision of policing services. The two
functions are united by an underpinning philosophy: the protection of the individual and the
safety of communities. Community policing is the key and core to what the organisation does.

Mission and Vision

An Garda Síochána’s Strategy for enhancing both the policing services provided and the
management and leadership capacity between 2019 and 2021.

Our Mission, for the next three years, is as important as it is simple: ‘Keeping People Safe’. As
Guardians of the Peace, Keeping People Safe and safeguarding human rights is central to what
we do. Keeping People Safe will be the guiding principle upon which we will base strategic and
operational decisions.

My vision for An Garda Síochána is a victim-centred police service, focused on keeping people
safe, protecting the most vulnerable and providing a consistently high standard of service.

Police Activities

In addition to its crime detection and prevention roles, road safety enforcement duties,
and community policing remit, the police service has some diplomatic and witness protection
responsibilities and border control functions.

Modern policing entails much more than crime fighting. Reducing the fear of crime and
working in partnership with communities are the keys to making a positive difference and
improving quality of life for all citizens.

Members of An Garda Síochána operate on the front line, supporting victims and
witnesses, providing reassurance and instilling confidence. Reserve Gardaí are volunteer
members within An Garda Síochána who provide support to full-time members and help to
strengthen links between the force and local communities throughout the country.

Work activities

 Attending road traffic collisions

 Responding to calls from the public
 Dealing with victims of crime
 Responding to serious public disorder incidents
 Arresting offenders
 Completing related paperwork.

Recruitment and Training

General Requirements

To be eligible for selection as a Trainee, an applicant must:

(i) Be of good character.

(ii) Be certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner (nominated by the Commissioner after

consultation with the Minister) to be in good health, of sound constitution and suited physically
and mentally to performing the duties of a member of the Service.

(iii) Have passed a Physical Competence Test

(iv) Be 18 years of age but not yet 35 years of age on midnight of the 24th April, 2019,
therefore you must have been born between 25th April 1984 and 24th April 2001.
(v) (a) Be a national of a European Union Member State, or

(b) Be a national of a European Economic Area State or the Swiss Confederation; or

(c) Be a Refugee under the Refugee Act, 1996; or

(d) Have had a period of one year’s continuous residence in the State on the closing date of the
advertisement for the competition for the vacancy to which the admission relates, and during
the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State
amounting to four years;

(e) Has been granted subsidiary protection, or is a family member of such a person, in
compliance with the Admissions and Appointments Regulations 2013.

(vi) Have by the closing date:

(a) obtained an Irish Leaving Certificate with a grade D3 minimum in five subjects at Ordinary
Level*, or

(b) hold a Level 5 Certificate (Major award) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ),
or

(c) hold a recognised qualification (at Level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in
terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland
(QQI)

AND

(d) Must have a proven proficiency in two languages; one of which must be Irish or English.

Such competency may be proven by achieving the relevant grades in an Irish Leaving
Certificateor for English or Irish through such assessments as set out by the Public
Appointments Service. The contents and scoring mechanism to be used at the assessments
(written and oral) will be determined by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

Overview of the Garda Trainee selection process

The chart below outlines the selection process that candidates can expect to participate in,
should they apply for the General and/or the Fluency in Irish Garda Trainee streams.
 Trainees undergo training at Garda Síochána College. It is the education and training
college of the Garda Síochána (Irish police service). It is located at McCan
Barracks, Templemore, County Tipperary in Ireland.

The training programme for Recruit Gardaí remained similar to that conducted in the
Phoenix Park, which provided for 18 weeks training before being allocated to a Garda Station.

After one year "on the job" each Recruit Garda returned to Templemore for a one-
month "refresher course". The subjects studied were Police Duties, Irish, and Physical Studies,
consisting of Physical Training, Drill, Swimming, and First Aid.

Following a major examination of all training in the Garda Síochána a new two-year
Student/Probationer Education/Training Programme was introduced for trainee Gardaí in April
1989. A major building programme saw the facilities developed and modernised to the most up
to date standards in Europe and the name of the institution changed from the Garda Training
Centre to the Garda College.

Many with an interest in An Garda Síochána have ambitions to work in specialist units
within the force which deal with tackling crimes such as fraud, forensics, drugs, gangland crime
etc. One must usually complete 3 years of service as a regular uniformed Garda before being
considered to serve on a specialist crime unit or for promotion up the ranks with each section
having its own selection procedures.

Below is a sample of some varying specialist units within An Garda Síochána.

Traffic Corps

The Traffic Corps main area of responsibility is ensuring the free movement of traffic and
enforcement of all aspects of traffic legislation. The Garda Traffic Corps use a wide range of
vehicles, ranging from motorcycles to patrol cars and 4x4 jeeps.

National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI)

The unit is responsible for the investigation of serious and organised crime nationwide and
consists mainly of detectives, who are generally senior investigators.

Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU)

This specialist unit investigates domestic and international drug trafficking. Its focus is to
dismantle drug networks involved in importation and distribution.

Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB)

The Criminal Assets Bureau is a specialist Garda unit established in 1996 which investigates the
proceeds of crime, its beneficiaries and associated criminal behaviour. The CAB is widely known
for its tackling of gangland crime and associated individuals that operate in the crime world.

Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI)

Informally known as the Garda Fraud Squad, this is a specialised division of Ireland's national
police force, the Garda Síochána, that investigates financial crimes.

Garda Technical Bureau

This is the longest established specialist unit in the Garda Síochána. The Bureau comprises of a
number of sections each providing a specialist service to the Garda Síochána: Administration,
Ballistics, Fingerprinting, Forensic Document Examination, Forensic Liaison Office, Mapping,
Photography.

Garda Public Order Unit

Commonly known as the Garda Riot Squad, this is a unit of the Garda Síochána, that deals
with public disorder, including riots and protests.
Regional Support Units (RSU)

RSU are specialist armed response units of An Garda Síochána. Based in all six Garda regions in
the country, Garda RSU officers carry a combination of lethal firearms and non-lethal weapons.

Crime and Security Branch (CSB)

Also known as "C3", it is responsible for the administration of national security, counter-
terrorism and serious crime investigations within the Garda Síochána. It consists of the
following units:

Special Detectives Unit

The Special Detective Unit superseded the Special Branch (which they are still commonly
referred to). Their duties include investigation of threats to state security, armed response to
serious incidents and Presidential, ministerial and diplomatic protection.

Emergency Response Unit (ERU)

The Garda ERU provides the highest tier of firearms response to Irish law enforcement,
specialising in weapons tactics, counter-terrorism, execution of high-risk missions, crisis
negotiation, hostage rescue and close protection, among other roles.

National Surveillance Unit (NSU)

Members of the unit are specially trained and selected Detective Gardaí who are tasked to
remain covert whilst on and off duty, tracking suspected criminals, terrorists and hostile, foreign
spies operating in Ireland. The unit's detectives are routinely armed. The National Surveillance
Unit is understood to possess a manpower of approximately 100 officers and is considered to be
the most secretive arm of the force.

Operational Support Unit

(Formally Special Services) is a section of the Garda Síochána responsible for providing support
services to policing in Ireland. It comprises of the following specialised units:

Garda Mounted Support Unit

The mounted unit (horseback) is based in Phoenix Park in Dublin. The mounted unit is
advantageous for its high visibility over crowds of people and is therefore commonly used as a
measure of crowd control, or to maintain public order at large-scale events such as matches or
parades. The Mounted Unit is also hugely beneficial in search and rescue operations for their
ability to cover rough terrain quickly.

Garda Water Unit

The Water Unit exists to assist the Garda Síochána in both diving and surface operations. Diving
operations include searching for and recovery of missing persons and evidence, conducting
security searches in water and in confined spaces e.g. sewers. The unit also conducts surface
patrols which encompass maritime safety, maritime legislation enforcement and security
patrols.

Police Organizational Structure

The general direction and control of An Garda Síochána is the responsibility of the
Garda Commissioner who is appointed by the Government.
The Commissioner is responsible to the Minister for Justice and Equality who in turn is
accountable to the Government for the security and policing of the State. The Commissioner is
assisted by a Deputy Commissioner and a Chief Administrative Officer. In addition, there are a
number of Assistant Commissioners in command of Regions with others who have responsibility
for critical portfolios such as Crime and Security, National Support Services, Traffic.
 There are also a number of Civilian Executive Directors with responsibility for Human
Resource and People Development, Finance and Services, and Information, Communications
Technology and Organisation Development and Strategic Planning. An Garda Síochána is a
community based organisation with over 14,500 Garda and Civilian employees. It has police
officers located in every county in Ireland, listening to, acting and working with the community.
For policing purposes the country is divided into 4 regions, each of which is commanded by an
Assistant Commissioner.
The 4 regions are:

 Dublin Metropolitan Region

 North Western Region
 Eastern Region
 Southern Region

The duties of the regional Assistant Commissioners are mainly operational. They are
responsible for:

 Ensuring the operational efficiency of their respective region;

 The quality of operational management exercised by their Divisional and District
Officers.

Each region is divided into divisions commanded by a Chief Superintendent, and each division is
then divided into districts commanded by a Superintendent. A Superintendent in charge of a
district is also known as the District Officer. He/she is assisted by a number of Inspectors. The
districts are divided into sub-districts, each normally the responsibility of a Sergeant. Each sub-
district usually has only 1 station, the strength of which may vary from 3 to 100 Gardaí. In
some areas there are stations known as sub-stations which for administrative purposes are
attached to a parent station. These sub-stations are usually occupied by one garda member.
There are 564 Garda Stations throughout the country.

Police Ranks and its Equivalent to PNP Ranks

Garda Rank structure in descending PNP Ranks in equivalence to Garda
order: Ranks

 Commissioner  Police General (PGEN)

 Deputy Commissioner  Police Lieutenant General (PLTGEN)
 Assistant Commissioner  Police Major General (PMGEN)
 Chief Superintendent  Police Brigadier General (PBGEN)
 Superintendent  Police Lieutenant Colonel (PLTCOL)
 Inspector  Police Lieutenant (PLT)
 Sergeant  Police Executive Master Sergeant
 Garda (PEMS)
 Reserve Garda  Patrolman / Patrolwoman (Pat)

The current head of An Garda Siochana

The Garda Commissioner is appointed by the Government of Ireland (Cabinet), on the

recommendation of the Minister of Justice and Equality. The current Garda Commissioner is
Drew Harris, former Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI, who took office on September 3,
2018. His term length is 5 years.
Comparison between PNP and An Garda Siochana

As we observed through the An Garda Síochána they have the same principles and core
functions just like the PNP. Both were working to the betterment of Community Policing.
Although, Garda is much more efficient in reducing the fear of crime and working in partnership
with communities, which are the keys to making a positive difference and improving quality of
life for all citizens. This is observed by making their police service as an unarmed one. Though
some high ranking politicians in the Philippines are already campaigning into the disarming of
PNP personnel during operations, we conclude that we are not still unto that level of conformity
just like the Guardians of Peace in Ireland.

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_ranks_of_the_Philippines

https://www.google.com/search?q=ranks+of+an+garda+siochana&source=lmns&bih=598&biw
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https://www.google.com/search?q=ranks+of+an+garda+siochana&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjT
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