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Trouble flared at demonstrations by the Pegida anti-Islam group and anti-racism protesters last year. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
the call of duty
'A lack of respect and a lack of gardaí': 5,400 officers assaulted over 11 years
Tasers, body worn cameras and minimum sentencing for assaulting officers have been called for.
NEARLY 5,500 gardaí have been injured in the line of duty since 2005, new figures have revealed.
The number of on-duty officers who have been assaulted since 2005 has been steadily rising from 390 in 2005 to 630 in 2015.
Five members of the force lost their lives over the same period.
So far this year, over 400 gardaí have been injured in the line of duty.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is currently balloting its members on recommendations made by the Labour Court in relation to their pay.
The body has said a lack of resources and respect is to blame for the seemingly never-ending rise in the number of officers being attacked every year.
President of the GRA, Ciarán O’Neill, said: “The GRA believes the consistent rise in these figures over the last few years is due to a number of factors including lack of gardaí, lack of respect by some for the role they play within society and also a lack of resources.
Respect
“No one should expect to be injured as part of their job, yet this has become an unacceptable occupational hazard. These figures show the perils gardaí face on a daily basis. We have no idea what lies ahead of us when we arrive at work every day. It’s clear that those responsible have no respect for the law or members of An Garda Síochána.”
Prior to the economic recession, political parties were consistent in calling for 16,000 gardaí to police the streets.
However, the GRA has said it has 12,000 members available for duty and claimed there are 2,500 fewer officers since 2010 as a result of the recruitment freeze and through retirements, long term illness and incentivised career breaks.
They are now calling for tasers to be given to officers to help cut down on the amount of assaults they suffer.
Vital
O’Neill added: “This drop equates to around five million policing hours lost every year. “This unacceptable drop in Garda numbers is set to continue on for the next 18 months as 700 members of the force face mandatory retirement.”
“No other members of the public sector are required to wear stab vests to work or carry personal protection equipment such as ASPs (batons) as a matter of course.
“It’s vital that the use of tasers is seriously examined as a deterrent for use by front line members working 24/7 in An Garda Síochána. Furthermore, the Garda Representative Association believes that the use of body worn cameras may act as a deterrent. We would also call for mandatory minimum sentences for those who assault members of the frontline emergency services.”
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