Garda boss apologises to victims

Must do better, she says

THE head of An Garda Síochána has admitted that too many victims of crime have felt abandoned by the system.

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said the force is now turning its focus to a victim-centred approach to policing, but the shift will require a huge change in culture for the organisation.

In an address at a conference organised by the University of Limerick’s School of Law, Ms O’Sullivan said her vision for the Garda service was that it would be ‘respectful, reassuring and reliable’ when dealing with victims of crime. She said: ‘When we fail in that... we say sorry and mean it and try to do better the next time.

‘Too many victims feel abandoned by the system. Sometimes they feel that someone turns up, takes notes, takes it seriously, makes a phone call, and that’s the end of that. We have to change that experience remembering that we are a public service, we are there to serve the people.’

Ms O’Sullivan said every garda needs to be aware of the impact of crime on victims and be accepting of criticism.

She remarked: ‘We should listen to the criticisms and we should take them as opportunities to l earn. No buts about it. If a citizen feels double victimised by our response then we have to be sorry and we have to say sorry and we have to make sure in so far as we can that it doesn’t happen again.’

Ms O’Sullivan said 28 victim service of f i ces have been established around the country staffed by a trained member of An Garda Síochána and a trained civilian member.

The Commissioner added: ‘We need to change the culture of the organisation. [It] will take time but we have started the little things that mean a lot.’

‘We should listen to criticisms’