An Garda Siochana: Ireland's National Police

Translated from Irish, An Garda Siochana means "Guardians of the Peace".

The mission of An Garda Siochana, Ireland's own national police service, is "Working with Communities to Protect and Serve". The organization is a modern police force currently comprised of over 14,500 personnel and present in every county in Ireland. Basic functions of An Garda Siochana include crime detection/prevention, national security, road safety, promotion of inter-agency cooperation, and working close with communities to prevent anti-social behavior.

Members of An Garda Siochana do not routinely carry firearms, but certain units of detectives and special response teams are authorized the possession of firearms while on duty. Regular patrol officers, although not issued firearms, have been armed with extendable batons since 2007 and pepper spray since 2009.

With its main focus on the safety and security of Irish citizens, the major operations of An Garda Siochana are performed by the Crime and Security Branch (CSB). Responsibilities of the Crime and Security Branch include the protection of the State from terrorism, protection of citizens from organized crime, liaising with Interpol and Europol, protecting government witnesses, issuing and tracking firearms licenses, and protecting certain government officials.

The Crime and Security Branch is also responsible for administering the Emergency Response Unit, a highly trained and specially equipped unit similar to major metropolitan SWAT teams in the U.S.

An Garda Siochana is controlled by a Garda Commissioner appointed and approved by the Irish government. The Garda Commissioner reports to the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, who in turn answers to the Irish legislature. The Garda Commissioner is assisted with his duties by a Deputy Commissioner of Strategy and Change Management, a Deputy Commissioner of Operations, and a Chief Administrative Officer. The national headquarters of An Garda Siochana are in Phoenix Park on the west side of Dublin, Ireland.

In order to become a member of An Garda Siochana, applicants must pass 22 weeks of basic training at Garda College in Templemore, Ireland, followed by 24 weeks of supervised tutorial at select station houses, followed by a probationary period as a fully fledged Garda for two years. While studying at Garda College, recruits will learn basic police theory and practice. Topics of study include the law, communications, and physical training. As the home of Garda basic training, Garda College also hosts ongoing training classes for Garda members of all ranks. Garda recruitment is currently limited to Irish citizens, EU nationals, and certain protected individuals between the ages of 18 and 35.

Sources:

About Us. An Garda Siochana.