We must change the way we recruit Gardai – there’s a huge shortage of feet on the street, says Fianna Fail TD
FIANNA Fail TD Jim O’Callaghan TD set the cat amongst the pigeons this week when he claimed the garda physical test could be too tough.
The party’s Justice spokesperson revealed new stats that showed one in six garda candidates failed on fitness.
The State hopes to recruit 1,000 new Gardaí this year.
However, recent recruitment drives have not landed the numbers hoped.
The Garda strength as of December 31, 2022 stood at 14,133.
Writing in The Irish Sun on Sunday today, JIM O’CALLAGHAN, left, says the current Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, must tackle the issue head on and change some of the entry requirements for wannabe cops.
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THERE is a recruitment crisis in An Garda Siochana.
Last year, less than 300 Gardai were recruited even though government funding had been made available for 800 recruits.
This year Government has allocated enough funding to recruit 1,000 new members but we will fail to reach this number unless we recognise that change is required in order to attract new recruits.
At present, there are approximately 14,200 Gardai in the force; but with continuous retirements and members frequently leaving for alternative employment there will be a steady decline in garda numbers unless we take in an average of 1,000 new Gardai annually.
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The reason we need to increase Garda numbers is because of the ongoing crime problem our communities face.
Unfortunately, there is a law and order problem in our cities and rural towns. This can only be adequately confronted by Gardai on the ground. This cannot be done if Garda numbers are declining.
This week I suggested that we look at making the Garda fitness test less demanding.
Last year 55 recruits who passed all other entry requirements were rejected because they didn’t pass the fitness test.
STRENUOUS OBSTACLE COURSE
That is something that Garda management needs to look at as, although a basic level of fitness is a pre-requisite for a Garda, the current test may be disqualifying those who have difficulty completing a strenuous obstacle course.
We also need to look at other proposals to keep Garda numbers at a sufficient level such as increasing the retirement age from 60 to 65 and allowing people over the age of 35 to join the force.
We also need to consider allowing entry into the force at sergeant or inspector level for specialist investigators.
Being a member of an Garda Siochana can be an exhilarating and rewarding career. Investigating crime, protecting the community and playing a role in the prosecution of offenders makes for an exciting career.
PEOPLE IN THEIR 30S SHOULD BE TARGETED
There is a reason why so many crime series are made for television and watched by such large audiences. Crime investigation is exciting.
Many people who have sedentary and monotonous careers would be interested in being Gardaí but for some reason they don’t give consideration to it in their early 20s. However, people in their 30s looking for a career change should be targeted by the force.
The new, temporary Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, only has a limited number of months in his role.
However, he should confront this crisis as a priority by changing the entry requirements and commencing a vigorous recruitment campaign that advertises the exciting and fulfilling career that people can have within the force.
He also needs to tackle the negative side of being a Garda such as harassment on social media. We as a community also need to re-establish respect, without deference, for the Gardaí amongst citizens.
The Gardaí are representatives of our community and they are there to protect the community. Without them we have chaos.
That is why it is so important to resolve this recruitment crisis this year by starting a vigorous recruitment campaign.
