REFORM of the system for handling complaints against gardai is expected to be advocated at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI). This takes place in Limerick over the next three days.
The complaints system militates against gardai who actively fight crime and pursue criminals, according to gardai. They say some criminals have made a pastime of filing "vexatious" complaints against gardai.
AGSI sources have pointed out that most false complaints are levelled against those officers who are most active in the fight against crime, about 10 per cent of the force.
While complaints are being investigated, officers careers are "on hold" and this can weigh heavily, on their minds. It is pointed out that many gardai realise that one way to avoid the prolonged complaints process is to avoid dealing with criminals and to seek work in non operational areas.
Various other aspects of policing are to be discussed, including the role of police in rural areas and the need for greater welfare services in urban areas.
Gardai in Dublin, in particular, remain concerned that there are no welfare provisions for emergency child care in the city after 5.30 p.m. and at weekends. Children found wandering the streets are cared for in Garda stations.
Gardai in rural areas are concerned that adequate human resources are not being provided to implement new policing policy.
The AGSI is expected to announce that it will not co operate with the Partnership 2000 public pay sector agreement as part of the wider Garda protest over pay.