Drug-related gun crimes are the biggest problem the Irish police force Garda face today. The persistence of these crimes has resulted in a decline of detection rates for other crimes. Previously narcotics trade was limited to big cities, but now it has spread throughout small towns in the countryside. The number of patrols carrying weapons has increased as well.
Most of the weapons used by drug gangs in fatal shootings are imported from Eastern Europe. Others are being sourced into Ireland along with shipments of illegal drugs. Detection rates of other crimes are still around 35%, a lot more than in many other jurisdictions. Moreover, some particularly heinous crimes that occurred recently have garnered great media publicity, and this has resulted in heightened criticism of the Garda, which was not warranted.
Garda cars comply with EU safety requirements to a maximum degree. Stab vests and extendable batons have been piloted and will come in use in the summer of 2006. Proposals for the police to use pepper spray are undergoing review. Around 1700 PCs have been supplied to Garda stations nationwide. A forensics unit for road accidents will soon be established. A tender for supply of a new digital radio system for the police is about to open as well.
There are plans to create 73 new inspector posts and 443 sergeant posts. These are required with the purpose to supervise the additional 2000 Garda members, who are presently in training at the Garda College in Tipperary. The establishment of new police stations is slow by all standards, however. The Garda police chief has submitted a proposal for public-private partnerships in this regard to the Department of Justice. If it is endorsed, one contractor will be building around 12 stations at a time throughout Ireland.
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