Gript has seen multiple videos and photographs from recent anti-asylum centre protests where members of the Garda Public Order Unit’s (POU) ‘riot squad’ did not appear to be wearing any visible identification, or to have turned on their body cameras, while on duty.
Our reporters also witnessed these instances of POU members with no identifying material in person on several occasions.
When questioned on the matter, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told Gript that “all members of the Public Order Unit are required to be identifiable when on duty.”
Further to this, confirmation from AGS supplied to a member of Dáil Eireann, and seen by Gript has shown that, “All uniform members shall wear epaulettes when in uniform. Members of Garda and Sergeant rank wear identifying shoulder numbers on these epaulettes. Epaulettes with rank markings are worn by all Officers and Inspectors when in uniform.”
“All members of Sergeant and Garda rank of the uniformed service shall wear the shoulder number allocated to them on the epaulettes of the shirt, tunic, patrol jacket and all other uniforms as the case may be.”
“Therefore epaulettes are worn by all members deployed on uniform duties and not in plain clothes duties.”
Gript provided An Garda Síochána with images of Garda POU members (specifically those kitted out with helmets and shields) who were not displaying identifying numbers on their uniforms from several instances.
We asked AGS for a statement as to why it was the case that these officers were not wearing identification and how this complied with the force’s own requirements.
We further asked how, where a member of the public felt that they may have been mistreated by an individual officer/s, they could make a complaint to the relevant authority in circumstances where the officer/officers in question were unidentifiable.
Gript also asked why images depicting officers wearing Body Worn Camera during an incident of unrest at a recent protest appeared to show that the camera was not switched on.
AGS’s policy on the use of Body Worn Cameras states that, “Gardaí will normally activate their cameras at start of an incident, and will continue to record until it’s no longer ‘proportionate or necessary’ or another system takes over, e.g. CCTV within a Garda station.”
Gript repeatedly asked AGS if there were any circumstances in which POU members may not be obliged to wear identifying numbers, and if they wished to comment on photographs showing POU members not wearing any identifying markings, but the response we received simply stated that “National Public Order Unit members” must “wear their designated numbers and rank markings clearly visible at all times” and that “any person not satisfied with their interaction with a member of An Garda Siochana in the course of their duties can make a complaint to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC).”
AGS did not explain how a member of the public could make a complaint against an officer if that officer is not displaying anything that allows a member of the public to identify them.
Every piece of Garda protocol we have examined has stated that this is a requirement, with the exception of undercover Gardaí.