Garda Professional Standards Unit Annual Report 2018

Garda Professional Standards Unit Annual Report 2018 Seirbhísí gairmiúla póilíneachta agus slándála a sholáthar le hiontaoibh, muinín agus tacaíocht na ndaoine ar a bhfreastalaímid To deliver professional policing and security services with the trust, confidence and support of the people we serve. Table of Contents Chapter Page Abbreviations 3 Foreword 5 Executive Summary 6 1. Introduction 11 2. Adherence to Work Plan 2018 18 3. Revised Inspection and Review Process 25 4. Thematic Reports 2018 28 5. GPSU Examinations & Reviews 35 6. Ensuring Organisational Standards 49 7. Stakeholder Engagement 54 8. Appendices 59 2 ABBREVIATIONS AFI Area for Improvement CAD Computer Aided Dispatch CO Clerical Officer DCU Dublin City University DMR Dublin Metropolitan Region DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid DPP Director of Public Prosecutions EIQA Excellence Ireland Quality Association EU European Union FCN Fixed Charge Notice FCPO Fixed Charge Penalty Office FCPS Fixed Charge Processing System FSI Forensic Science Ireland GDPR General Data Protection Regulation GIAS Garda Internal Audit Service GNDOCB Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau GNIB Garda National Immigration Bureau GNPSB Garda National Protective Services Bureau GPCU Garda Policy Compliance Unit GPSU Garda Professional Standards Unit GRMU Garda Risk Management Unit GSIM Garda Síochána Interview Model HQ Headquarters IoI Item(s) of Interest IPA Institute of Public Administration IRR Inspection and Review Return IT Information Technology KNPA Korean National Police Agency KPI Key Performance Indicator 3 LED Law Enforcement Directive MA Master of Arts MRP Modernisation & Renewal Programme NFCO National Forensic Co-Ordination Office NSS National Support Services PAF Performance and Accountability Framework PALF Performance and Learning Framework PAMT Portal Application Management Team PCSOC Policing and Community Safety Oversight Commission PDT Presumptive Drug Testing PEMS Property & Exhibit Management System PPU Policy & Planning Unit PULSE Police Using Leading Systems Effectively RAG Red, Amber, Green RC1 Form Radio Control (1) Form RPMEM Roads Policing & Major Emergency Management SCO Special Crime Operations SCRT Serious Crime Review Team SDU Special Detective Unit SIO Senior Investigating Officer SPU Strategic Planning Unit STO Strategic Transformation Office 4 FOREWORD I am pleased to present the Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) Annual Report 2018. This report provides a reflection of the activities, achievements and performance of the Unit during the period 1st April 2018 to 31st March 2019. Since its inception, GPSU has continued to build upon its strengths while learning from its experiences. The Unit has developed significant competence in evidence-based advice and standards development, as well as working to improve the manner in which we garnish information from the Organisation’s Sworn and Garda staff members. Significant progress was made throughout 2018 with regard to commitments made by the Unit and in ensuring our readiness to meet the challenges in changing our methodologies towards detailed Thematic Examinations. I would like to acknowledge the strong commitment and dedication of all the GPSU staff in meeting the targets and goals of the Unit. Additionally, I wish to express my appreciation in respect of the professional working relationships fostered with our stakeholders, both within and external to the Organisation. Their valuable insight into key governance areas has continually guided the direction and progress of the Unit throughout the period under review. Organisational milestones in 2018 saw the appointment of a new Garda Commissioner, the publication of the report on The Future of Policing in Ireland, together with the publication of the Third interim report of the tribunal of inquiry chaired by the Honourable Mr. Justice Peter Charleton. While a number of the findings made by the Tribunal make for stark reading, the importance of the work conducted by GPSU and other governance stakeholders, was given added impetus by Justice Charleton who proffered, “An Garda Síochána must become a place where incompetence is not covered up, where laziness is called to account and where people respect their senior officers”. Through our Thematic Examinations we have endeavoured to aspire to the expectations of Justice Charleton by identifying Organisational risks and opportunities in many policing areas. In doing so, I am confident that the new methodology of examination will aid the Organisation in meeting its “Obligations” as outlined in the aforementioned tribunal of enquiry. _______________________ JOHN NOLAN CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT _______ March 2019 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose and function of the Garda Professional Standards Unit (GPSU) is to examine and review, as directed by the Commissioner, the operational, administrative and management performance of An Garda Síochána at all levels. The Unit is also required to propose measures to the Commissioner to improve performance and promote the highest standards of practice, as measured by reference to the best standards of comparable police services, in operational, administrative and management matters relating to An Garda Síochána. GPSU continues, with support and advice from internal and external stakeholders, to revise its methodologies to ensure compliance with Section 24 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005. 2018 marked a transition for GPSU in this regard and saw the Unit move from geographical area examinations previously conducted to more focused Thematic Examinations. GPSU again attained the ‘Q Mark’ for Quality Management Systems in 2018 from Excellence Ireland Quality Association (EIQA). This external accreditation provides the team with a high degree of credibility and confidence in the processes and systems utilised. It is the aim of GPSU to continuously improve the service it provides to its stakeholders and this can only be achieved by an honest review of 2018 activities whilst planning ambitiously but realistically for 2019. Management at GPSU continuously strive to augment the operational capacity of the Unit by maintaining the optimum staffing levels. Three additional personnel (Garda rank) were selected following a competency based interview process and were assigned to GPSU in March 2018. One additional Garda Staff member, (clerical officer [C/O] grade), was also assigned to the Unit in April 2018. While Unit strength decreased with the transfer of two Inspectors to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and to the Special Detective Unit (SDU) following their success in an internal competition for Detective Inspector’s and with the redeployment of one Sergeant and one Garda member to operational policing roles, it is welcomed, however, that one Inspector, one Sergeant, one Garda and one further Garda staff member were assigned to the Unit in early 2019 to fill the aforementioned vacancies. Accordingly, as it stands, the remaining GPSU current vacancies are one (1) Inspector and one (1) HEO. 6 GPSU personnel are encouraged to upskill regularly through internal and external training and development courses and, on 14th December 2018, four personnel were awarded a Professional Certificate in Governance by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA). Additionally, Chief Superintendent John Nolan and Superintendent Paul Costello successfully completed Master of Arts (MA) programmes in Senior Crime Investigation and graduated with Honours awarded by the University of Limerick. During 2018 GPSU continued to actively engage with internal and external stakeholders, including the Policing Authority, the Garda Inspectorate, the Key Governance Stakeholder group and the Risk and Policy Governance Board in order to determine the best use of GPSU time and resources for the benefit of the Garda Organisation. It should be noted that senior Garda management directed that an Inspector from GPSU attend hearings at the Tribunal of Inquiry into Protected Disclosures Made under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and Certain Other Matters, in order to monitor and record issues arising and to act as liaison between State Counsel and the Tribunal Co-Ordination Office. This interaction allowed first hand account of the Tribunal Recommendations which GPSU now consider for inclusion in future work. This will be discussed further in this report. In 2018 GPSU published a report related to an Examination of the Kilkenny / Carlow Division, while Reviews of the DMR North, Sligo/Leitrim and Wexford Divisions were also completed. Details of Findings and Recommendations made by GPSU in each report are provided in Chapters 5 & 6. Areas of concern identified in these examinations and reviews prompted recommendations to local management for implementation or further consideration. As previously advised, a system of implementation review by local management (or policy holder) of priority recommendations made by GPSU, introduced in late 2017 following consultations with oversight stakeholders, was further progressed in 2018. This process allows GPSU and local management to monitor and manage the implementation of GPSU recommendations and provides a ready reckoner of progress in that regard. The development of the proposed Information Technology (I.T.) solution and associated pilot scheme, aimed at driving compliance with existing Organisational policy1 continued throughout the reporting period. Detailed presentations were provided to participating 1 HQ Directive 59/2014 – Garda Inspections and Reviews 7 Divisions and

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