The Policing Authority has today published What We Heard 2023. This is a short report which provides a summary of the views and insights of Garda personnel engaged with in 2023 about their experience of policing. These conversations happened in the course of our oversight work in Garda stations and meetings with specialist Garda units nationwide. While the report does not claim to be representative or generalisable there were a number of key themes emerging from these conversations including:
- Health and wellbeing;
- Management of Change;
- Performance Management;
- Specialist Support Capacity;
- Resourcing and Retention Challenges; and
- Organisational Approach to Training.
Policing Authority Chairperson, Dr Elaine Byrne BL, commented on the publication of the report:
“This report shares what we heard from Garda personnel about their experience of doing their job. While the themes recognise the difficult and challenging role they face in serving the Irish public, there is a real commitment to improve the service provided to the public and to support the wellbeing of their colleagues.”
Building upon the 2022 report that focused on the public’s experience and perspectives on policing, the 2023 report aims to understand both the challenges and positive aspects of policing from the perspective of those delivering the service. These insights and experience will inform the Authority’s work and its engagement with the Garda Commissioner about how policing can continue to improve both as a service to communities and as an employer to approximately 17,500 Garda Members and Staff.
The Authority is grateful to Gardaí and Garda staff for giving so generously of their time, and for the openness with which they discussed their experiences.
What We Heard 2023 will be discussed during this week’s meeting in public of the Policing Authority. The meeting will take place in The Richmond, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, at 3pm on Thursday, 29 February. Those wishing to attend in person can register here. The meeting will be live-streamed on the Authority’s website and YouTube channel.
