The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024

On 31 January 2024, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 ("the Act") passed through both houses of the Oireachtas and was signed into law by the President on 7 February 2024 however it is not yet commenced.

The Act forms part of the wider policing reform programme called A Policing Service for our Future, published by Government in December 2018  which implements the recommendations set out in the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

Some of the recommendations that the Act will implement are:

• Community safety will become the responsibility of the government and multi-agency;
• The external independent oversight of An Garda Síochána will be strengthened and consolidated;
• A new non-executive board, Bord an Gharda Síochána, will be established to enhance the internal governance of An Garda Síochána;
• An Independent Examiner of Security Legislation will be established which will strengthen the independent review of security legislation and provide for the delivery of security services.

In addition, the Act will establish An tÚdarás Póilíneachta agus Sábháilteachta Pobail (Policing and Community Safety Authority) which will introduce stronger independent external oversight of An Garda Síochána. This will combine the existing oversight function of the Policing Authority and the inspection functions of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate.

The Act will see the replacement of Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission ("GSOC") with the establishment of Fiosrú – Oigif an Ombudsman Póilíneachta. This reformed policing complaints body will implement restructured processes and procedures relating to the handling of complaints and the conduct of investigations into allegations of wrongdoing on the part of members of Garda personnel.

At the public accounts meeting before the Dáil on 8 February 2024, GSOC chair Mr Justice Rory McCabe outlined that the current "level of resourcing remains below what we need now and significantly below what the organisation is likely to need in order that fiosrú can meet its new remit". Mr Justice McCabe, alluded to the Grant Thornton report from 2023 which "estimates the additional staffing we will require would be a minimum of 180 and, depending on the extent of the additional work that arises, up to 239. " Mr Justice McCabe stated "for the new office to succeed, significant additional support in the shape of resources and expertise will be needed." 

Written by: Sinéad Taaffe and Sara O'Sullivan