Senior Cork Garda raises concerns over new policing model

A Cork-based senior garda has raised concerns over a new policing model which has seen a number of garda divisions across the country enlarged.

Detective superintendent Michael Comyns, who is the general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents, said the new model has seen the roles and responsibilities of superintendents “changed completely”.

“Historically the garda model of policing was organised into districts around the country and each division in the country would roughly be along county bounds and county boundaries and there would be two or three districts in each division, so our members, superintendents, would be in charge of the districts and would have full responsibility for everything that happened in those districts,” Det Supt Comyns said, speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

“The new operating model which has now been implemented in 14 divisions around the country combines divisions and enlarges the divisions and our roles and responsibilities as superintendents have changed completely.

“Instead of being responsible for a district, which would be roughly half a county… we now have responsibility for community engagement areas, crime and performance assurance.

“To explain that, the community engagement areas are two districts, usually, amalgamated, in some cases three districts amalgamated, and one superintendent in charge of that.

“Then in each division you have one detective superintendent in charge of all of what’s described as serious crimes and the management of investigations of serious crimes and you have one performance assurance superintendent who looks after the likes of the criminal justice area, the court management, discipline, complaints and the performance of each area within the division.” 

Det Supt Comyns said members of the Association of Garda Superintendents have “raised concerns since the very start of the implementation of the model in relation to the geographical spread”.

His comments come as the Association of Garda Superintendents held its annual conference in Co Meath yesterday.