1,000 extra gardaí to be recruited
19 December 2006 14:43
Three hundred extra civilians and 1,000 extra gardaí are to be recruited as part of a new series of measures to tackle organised crime.

The 300 civilians are to be recruited next month to release the same number of gardaí from administrative duties.

The Government has also decided to bring the strength of the force up to 15,000 by recruiting another 1,000 full time gardaí.

The full package is due to be announced this afternoon by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell.

Measures to speed up the process of bringing suspects to trial are also expected to be included.

However, Mr McDowell is not expected to introduce legislation to allow a Chief Superintendent to give so-called belief evidence against gangland criminals, because of constitutional difficulties.

The minister has indicated he believes greater weight should be attached to the opinions of senior gardaí in bail hearings to prevent recidivist criminals being released.

Meanwhile, the contract for the new garda radio system is to be signed today and there will be 1,200 new garda cars within the month.

Source:RTÉ News

nice!! I know we could do with an extra 1000 officers!

I'm still not tempted to transfer, unless Sarge is my tutor.

Even less tempted then, worst of all dick youd have to re-do training we dont reconise training of other forces


They're also raising retirement age from 57 to 60 and increase the reserve

I go when i'm 52 on a full pension, just over 13 years to go

Dick, I cant imagine you retired, do you need someone to carry your golf clubs???

I don't know one end of a golf club from the other

You'll have plenty of time to learn, can use your bus pass to go to the park and feed the ducks

Our retirement age is 60 which means 30 years to go, doh!

So it's not all doom and gloom being a copper in England then.

30 years, 1 month and 3 days left

Surely not until you retire

30 years, 1 month and 2 days left now

B-day is 25th of jan and I'm only going 30

Doing this until you are 60
That's pants

Beats working for a living