National: Assassination attempts to dutiful detection dogs - Garda report marks 100 years of keeping people safe

100 Years of Keeping People Safe has been marked in the Garda Annual Report 2022.

The 2022 Garda Annual Report reflects on the incredible contribution and dedication over the last 100 years of all generations of largely unarmed Gardaí to keeping people safe, as well as the work carried out in 2022 to prevent and detect crime.

During 2022, over €57 million of drugs and almost €4 million in cash was seized, a new drug testing device adopted by Garda National Roads Policing Bureau, a landmark analysis of domestic, sexual and gender based violence published, and stolen vehicles worth €2.1m recovered, according to the 2022 Garda Annual Report published today.

The year also saw the organisation make major advances in preventing and detecting crime, protecting national security, and supporting our people in their vital work.

In April, An Garda Síochána joined with law enforcement partners from the US, UK and Europe to announce a range of sanctions and enforcement measures to tackle the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang.

This multi-agency, multi-national operation developed by An Garda Síochána will become the model to combat such transnational gangs who cause such misery globally. 

In September, An Garda Síochána published a landmark analysis of domestic, sexual and gender based violence that provided data and insights to help to further improve prevention and detection in this area, and supports for victims. 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: "2022 marked An Garda Síochána’s centenary, it was a year of reflection and thanks for the organisation.

"It was also an opportunity to thank to all Garda personnel – both serving and retired – who have shown such commitment to protecting and supporting people and communities since 1922 and their families for supporting them in work that can be physically and mentally demanding.”

"While all our centenary activity demonstrated how we have evolved over the 100 years to meet the changing needs of society, it also showed how we remained true to our core value of policing not by force of arms or numbers, but on our moral authority as servants of the people.”

Key highlights of 2022 include:

• Over €57m worth of drugs and almost €4m cash seized by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau

• The Schengen Information System (SIS II) had 1,424 hits on Member States alerts and 809 hits on Irish alerts

• Over 1,400 Garda personnel signed up to wear the organisation’s Fáinne, a visual demonstration of them being available to converse with the public in Irish

• Over 549,000 vetting applications were processed, an increase of 27%

• Twenty three awards were handed out to young people from across the country recognised at the National Garda Youth Awards

An Garda Síochána continued to make progress in the implementation of the Government’s reform programme, A Policing Service For Our Future.
 
Improvements in 2022 included: 

• Over 10,200 Gardaí being able to access critical information on the move through a mobility application

• The biggest fleet in the organisation’s history

• The new Garda uniform based on demand from front-line Gardaí for a more practical and modern uniform

• The roll-out of new technology systems such as the Investigation Management System, and the Roster and Duty Management System

• New and refurbished stations and offices

Further highlights for 2022 included:

National Policing

• 80 assassination attempts thwarted since 2016

• 1,177 Garda Air Support Unit flights

• Garda Dog Unit detection dogs assisted in 368 searches

• 488 new cases and 692 closed cases by the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau

• 10,510 missing person incidents

National Security & Intelligence

• Armed Support Unit (ASU) dispatched to almost 6,000 armed calls

• 370 refugees were security screened by Special Detective Unit (SDU) personnel as part of the Irish Refugee Resettlement Programme (IRRP)

• 112 negotiator activations for 2022 – an decrease of 24% compared with 2021

Community Safety

• Rural Safety Plan 2022-2024 introduced

• Over 2,000 Garda personnel of all ranks and grades completed the 12-week bespoke training course and are now human rights champions

• Age card applications rose to 44,981

• Over 300 venues across the country for National Community Engagement Day

• Slowdown campaign launched in June

Cross-Organisation Services

• 14,133 Gardaí / 3,332 Garda Staff (whole time equivalent)/ 375 Reserves by year-end

• Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) created 559,000 incidents on the PULSE system on behalf of Gardaí

• Over 1.9m social media followers across 24 national and local sites – an increase in followers of 8%

• First group of Garda interns joined the organisation. These interns were from diverse communities and backgrounds - 39% of these interns have applied to become members of An Garda Síochána