Senior garda claims new policing model has led to loss of links with local communities

Vivienne Clarke

A senior garda has claimed that the implementation of the new 'Operating Policing Model' has led to them losing their links with local communities and the staff they supervise.

Supt Michael Comyns, who is the general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents, said the new operating model combined Garda divisions, which in turn enlarged and “changed completely” the roles and responsibilities of superintendents.

“We now have a responsibility for community engagement areas, crime and performance assurance,” he told RTÉ's Morning Ireland, pointing out that a superintendent now has responsibility for two to three areas in a division.

He said there is now one detective superintendent in charge of all serious crimes and the management of investigations of serious crimes, and one performance assurance superintendent to look after the criminal justice area, court management and complaints and the performance of each area within the division.

“We have raised concerns since the very start of the implementation of the model in relation to the geographical spread,” he said.

Supt Comyns said that in some divisions the geographical spread was just too wide and it would not be possible for a detective superintendent to manage investigations if there were serious incidents in two places at opposite ends of the division at the same time.

The Association of Garda Superintendents is holding its annual conference in Co Meath on Wednesday and is due to be addressed by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

Garda superintendents are the senior operational leaders and decision makers on the ground in An Garda Síochána.