Less than half of all gardaí available for duty were engaged on publically visible patrolling, according to a new Garda audit report.
The audit found that in total; just 44% of fully-trained gardaí were engaged in patrolling and high-visibility policing, in direct contact with the public, as revealed on RTÉ’s This Week programme.
This is despite recommendations from the force’s own Policing Plan, and recommendations from the national police standards body, the Garda Inspectorate, which have highlighted the importance of ensuring the maximum number of gardaí are assigned to high visibility policing duties in direct contact with the public.
The figure was described by the Garda Internal Audit Committee, who carried out the report, as “low”.
It is believed this is the first time…
