Garda Síochána Reserve

The Garda Síochána Reserve is the volunteer reserve section of the Garda Siochana - the police force of the Republic of Ireland. It was created in 2006 and the first 36 Reserves graduated on 15 December 2006 at the Garda College, in Templemore.cite news
title=First Garda Reserve members graduate
work=RTÉ News
publisher=RTÉ
date=2006-12-15
url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1215/garda.html
accessdate=2007-05-26]

Establishment

The [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/index.html Garda Síochána Act 2005] provides for the establishment of a Garda Reserve, consisting of 4,000 persons, to assist the force in performing its functions. Its purpose is to supplement the work of members of the Garda Síochána. The first 900 recruits to the Reserve were expected to be in place by September 2006. 159 Reserve members have been deployed to date (October 2007).

The Reserve will carry out duties defined by the Garda Commissioner and sanctioned by the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform.

Function

The Garda Reserve is intended to be a source of local strength and knowledge. Reserve members will be given full powers and duties, however these powers have been restricted and will be rolled out at the discretion of the commissioner. Reserve members will receive training in Law, self defence, Human Rights and Garda procedures and discipline. Reserve members are required to work under the supervision of regular members of the Force. A Garda Reserve will be required to work a minimum of 208 hours per year, with minimum tour durations of 4 hours. Duties of a Reservist include: Station Duty (other than care & custody of detained persons), staffing communications rooms, foot patrol, static security duty, event policing, preserving crime scenes, court attendance (as witnesses), assisting at road traffic checkpoints, collisions, fires, etc.

Limited Powers

Reservists will not be deployed in plain clothes, carry firearms or drive Garda vehicles. Duties and powers assigned to Garda Reserves will be commensurate to their training and will primarily involve legislation relating to road traffic, public order, drugs, theft & burglary. Garda Reserves will be permitted limited access to the PULSE (Police Using Leading Systems Effectively) system.

The Garda Reserves powers will be restricted and amended at the discretion of the commissioner in accordance with Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As of the 28th of May 2007 the powers will encompass limited Road Traffic Act powers and Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 [http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/sec0015.html#partii-chapii-sec15 Irish Statute Book, Acts of the Oireachtas, Garda Síochána Act 2005, Section 15 ] ] .

Progress

As of December 2006 more than 7,000 people had applied to join the Garda Reserve.

References

ee also

* Auxiliary police
* Special constable