public order training - Garda Review

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Garda_Nov_07_p4-9:Garda_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 9:59 AM Page 5 INTO THE Public order policing is about being part of a well-drilled machine; where six members and their unit sergeant move as one. It is as close to operational drill as you can get. The difference between regular policing and the graduation to public order policing, for any Garda, is essentially that you make no action or movement until commanded to do so, and no one works on their own. While there are six Gardaí for each of the sergeants, these need not be a constant team as different people can make up the squad depending upon availability. The training is universal and the tactics interchangeable; it is designed so that all instructed members can function as a unit, whether they work together regularly or never before. As soon as the order is given members know the drill. Inspector Declan Downey is one of the senior instructors for all of the public order units in the country, and he is fully operational in the DMR region. He said, “Members can be mixed and match and still operate as a unit. “This is the nature of public order units all over the world – the members are not autonomous and must act with clearly defined and practised roles; in a way not dissimilar to the tactics employed in the military.” PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING FIRE The instruction might be more hazardous for participants than deployment, but the need for fully trained public order units is greater than ever. Neil Ward reports. The baton and shield formations are not unlike those practiced by Roman legions two thousand years ago. It is kept as simple as possible for each individual, but collectively the tactics form a sophisticated means to break up violent disorder without resorting to lethal weaponry. Garda public order units are engaged on a part-time basis, to be called on as required. There is a pool resource drawn from the regular uniformed units. Units are generally on standby in Dublin City Divisions on Friday and Saturday nights; Sundays, at Bank Holiday weekends, and increasingly in country towns and divisions too. Members are generally informed of a tour by a unit sergeant as to when they might be required, they are no longer eligible to be drawn from specialist units; even those who have been trained and are experienced in operations are ruled out as they can be called on at awkward times and more frequently – it can leave gaps in those specialist units. As people are transferred out of the regular uniformed units, more members have to be trained in public order, as the need arises. Public order units are organised and trained on a regional basis; there is no full-time training facility so this facility has to be usually borrowed from the Defence Forces; with current capacity to train 60 members per week (in the DMR) GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 5
Garda_Nov_07_p4-9:Garda_Mar_07-p4-29 11/9/07 10:00 AM Page 7 Back L-R: Michael Kearney; Peter Divilly; Andy Hawkshaw; John Troy: Pat Byrne Front L-R: Paddy McMenaman; Stephen O’Mahony; Richard Shannon; Willie Howard; Colm Megan; Declan Downey; Pat Greensmith when the base in Gormanstown, Co. Meath, is available. In September a further 450 members were put through the training process to add to the 1,089 previously trained personnel, such is the demand for the units in an ever-increasing climate of public disorder after-hours in town and city centres and at soccer matches. The instructors themselves are trained for three weeks in Templemore; some then go on to the PSNI or to Manchester for further specialist courses. “Health and safety in the training are paramount”, said Declan Downey, “especially when missiles and debris such as blocks are being thrown, the dog unit and mounted unit are in full flow – and where we are training using petrol. “Petrol is used in training, but there are health and safety issues, so this type of practice should become tougher on the refresher courses. Training is often more hazardous than deployment; as that deployment can often entail sitting in the back of a van. “The advanced paramedics or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are vitally important in our training and deployments. They are well trained in all aspects and tactics, including petrol, that relate to public order incidents and are a vital component of Garda training, as they are there on the scene of any disorder with us.” The paramedics attend on a loose- “THIS IS THE NATURE OF PUBLIC ORDER UNITS ALL OVER THE WORLD – THE MEMBERS ARE NOT AUTONOMOUS AND MUST ACT AS WITH DEFINED AND PRACTISED ROLES” arrangement basis at present rather than through formal protocols, which are still to be formalised and finalised through Garda HQ. OPEN COMPETITION There has previously been a pre-selection course to determine whether candidates are fit enough to stand the physical nature of the duty. This year saw the introduction of the basic fitness test for all participants, of whatever rank, on the first day of each basic course. There is a lot of kit – the overalls, batons, shield, fire extinguisher, some carry gas masks, helmet, cuffs and body armour on the torso, arms and legs. Magpies like to collect stuff; and exmembers of the public order units have gained a reputation for holding onto their kit. Helmets are understandable, for health and safety (hygiene) reasons these are personally issued. The rest is reissued and recycled, as are the plastic PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING water bottles that are used extensively in training to provide distractions to the trainees. There is the blunt trauma body armour vest, helmet, gloves, baton, utility belt and a large public order shield. While the shields are not heavy in themselves if you are carrying it for an hour or more when having rocks thrown at you they get very heavy. Members in training are generally young and fit; training is arduous as it involves carrying the shield for the week. The average age for a Garda to be accepted for training is between 22 and 30, while the sergeants tend to be in or around 35. Female members tend to demonstrate a greater drop out rate; which is often explained in terms of the need for upper body and lower back strength for the cumulative weight of carrying the kit – especially if shields can become too much. However, there are quite a considerable number of female members presently within the National Public Order Unit. The training is arduous. Anyone with a medical history – or in their immediate family – will not be considered; even members with old injuries that might recur and treated similarly. PRE-REHEARSED There is no additional payment; it is voluntary in that it is applied for through the usual channels. An open competition is held and members are invited to register their interest. When it comes to payment, overtime becomes payable if a member is called in on a rest day, and depending on the distance travelled it may become eligible for subsistence allowances. The deployment of public order units must always be based on the principles of Inspectors Declan Downey and Andy Hawkshaw GREATER NEED FOR PUBLIC ORDER TRAINING GARDA REVIEW � NOVEMBER 2007 � 7
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public order training - Garda Review

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