Cyber crimefighting, tablets and bodycams...

SOME of the recommendations would have significant cost implications, others mean radical change.

CYBER CRIME UNIT: [Specialist Garda units] should be resourced to develop the enhanced specialist expertise this requires. Extortion, fraud, ransomware, child pornography, sexploitation and other cybercrime and internet-enabled crimes are proliferating fast.

SEVERANCE PACKAGE: A one-off targeted severance option should be available for management to deploy for those who would rather move on.

CRIME ANALYSIS: The Garda Analysis Service, which does good work with limited resources and imperfect sources of data, should be enlarged and have analysts based in all Garda divisions as well as centrally. An Garda Síochána should institute a properly resourced crime analysis and response process, building on the current good work of the Garda Analysis Service.

YOUTH: The Garda Youth Diversion Office should be sufficiently staffed, resourced and positioned.

PROSECUTIONS: All prosecution decisions should be taken away from the police and given to an expanded state solicitor or national prosecution service. We also recommend that the practice of police prosecuting cases in court should cease.

INQUESTS: The current role of police in the inquest system is another area of concern. We support calls to reform the coroner system so that gardaí no longer perform these functions.

NON-CORE DUTIES: The non-core duties currently performed by gardaí include some aspects of security at courts, transporting all remand prisoners, serving summonses, attending minor road traffic accidents, safeguarding examination papers for schools, overseeing passports and opening of bank account.

INTELLIGENCE HUB: Immediate creation of a national centre for intelligence collation and analysis (Strategic Threat Analysis Centre – STAC), situated centrally within Government, answering to the Department of the Taoiseach.

SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE RECRUITMENT: An Garda Síochána’s security and intelligence capability must be strengthened, in particular by means of a ring-fenced budget provision and an ability to recruit specialist expertise – analytical, technological and legal – directly and quickly. RECRUITMENT OF CIVILIANS: We recommend that non-sworn personnel should be recruited directly into An Garda Síochána as full members of the police service.

TRAINING: A new Learning and Development Strategy, encompassing recruit and in-service training, and continuous professional development. The strategy should be costed and should include specific objectives to support e-learning. TECHNOLOGY: Phone or tablet for each member. PULSE MODERNISED: The core technology platform of An Garda Síochána must be modernised. UPDATED CAD SYSTEM: An Garda Síochána must deploy a modern and nationwide Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. BODY CAMS: An Garda Síochána should develop a plan to deploy body worn cameras. A DIGITAL DASHBOARD: A real-time crime and safety centre (CSC) should be deployed at An Garda Síochána headquarters. DIGITAL FORENSICS: An Garda Síochána should further develop its cybercrime and cyber security capabilities.