Conference Report 2016

Section 1: Pay and Allowances
3.10 In effect, arising from these statutory obligations
and the reality of day-to-day policing, gardaí serve
as:
• guardians of the peace of Ireland with a duty to
enforce a wide range of laws and to maintain
order,
• the interface between the law and order of the
State and the general public,
• the most visible public face of the authority of the
State for most of its citizens.
3.11 In practice, the daily work of gardaí is extremely
wide ranging and (though not limited to) can
embrace the following:
• protection of life, property and the civil rights of
individuals
• prevention, detection, and investigation of
violations of laws involving accidents, crimes, and
misconduct
• identification and arrest of suspects
• advising persons under arrest of their rights
• assisting in the prosecution of criminals
• assisting persons in emergencies
• being obliged to exhibit personal courage in
potentially dangerous situations
• serving to address the increasingly international
dimension of policing work (for example, through
developments at Interpol, Schengen, the internet,
immigration, paedophilia, globalised criminal
networks).
3.12 The calibre of the work of the gardaí impinges upon
their status within, and trust among, the community.
It also permeates the level of acceptance of law
enforcement by citizens, the extent of crime
prevention and detection and the degree to which
citizens are prepared to cooperate with the gardaí.
They also provide an example to the community in
their conformance with the law, afford the public a
sense of personal security and that their rights and
property are safeguarded.
3.13 A uniformed garda on roster duty carries out
fundamental tasks on a recurring basis. These may
include though are not limited to:
• patrols on foot, cars, motor-bikes and bicycles,
which by the physical presence of gardaí help
crime prevention and act as a deterrent to the
infringement of laws, rules and regulations, whilst
affording the public the all-important sense of
security in their day-to-day activities
• maintaining surveillance in high crime areas or of
individuals suspected of criminal behaviour
• being at all times alert and aware so as to observe
unusual or suspicious behaviour
• responding and reacting appropriately to
requests from the public
• inspecting and investigating incidents and
disturbances, circumstances or individuals that
are reported or appear unusual and suspicious
• investigating crimes and law breakers
• preserving crime and accident scenes
• protecting evidence
• searching and disarming suspects or persons
being placed under arrest
• interviewing victims and witnesses and
questioning suspects and taking statements
• keeping notes of all scenarios wherein action was
taken, preparing reports on relevant or priority
activities, appearing in court as witnesses in
criminal prosecution and civil litigation cases
• taking responsibility for traffic control and the
monitoring and enforcement of traffic law offences
• juvenile liaison
• community relations, entailing the forging of links
between gardaí and the community
• developing open, friendly and potentially
productive relationships with the public
• operating control centres, work desks and
communication networks
• receiving and recording radio, telephone and
personal messages and instructions associated
with emergencies, complaints, violations, accidents
and requests for information and assistance
• crowd and riot control
• analysing, evaluating, prioritising and acting on
information received
• seeking and executing search warrants
• executing warrants for arrest
• transporting prisoners
• protecting delivery and collection of cash
• verifying and certifying identification of
individuals
38th Annual Delegate Conference
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