Garda Síochána Reserve

Volunteer part-time section of the Irish police

Law enforcement agency

Garda Síochána Reserve
Cúltaca an Gharda Síochána

Shield of Garda Síochána

Agency overview
Formed| 2006
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction| Republic of Ireland
Constituting instrument|

* Garda Síochána Act 2005

General nature|

* Civilian police

Operational structure
Parent agency| Garda Síochána

The Garda Síochána Reserve (Irish: Cúltaca an Gharda Síochána) is the volunteer part-time section of the Garda Síochána, the national police force of Ireland. It was created in 2006. The first 36 reserves graduated on 15 December 2006, at the Garda College in Templemore.[1]

## Establishment

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The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda Reserve, consisting of approximately 1,000 people, or 10% of the regular force. Its purpose is to supplement the work of Garda Síochána's regular members.[2] The first 900 recruits to the Reserve were expected to be in place by September 2006. As of February 2015, 1164 Reserve members were deployed. As of 13 October 2016, there were 789 Garda Reserve members with further training scheduled for 2017[3][4] The Reserve carries out duties defined by the Garda Commissioner and sanctioned by the Minister for Justice.

## Function and training

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The Garda Reserve is intended as a source of local security and information. It provides local patrols and participates in crime-prevention initiatives in local problem areas.[5] The legal powers of its members are defined and managed at the commissioner's discretion.

Reservists receive training in Irish law, self-defense, restraint, human rights, Garda procedures and discipline. They must work under the supervision of, and be accompanied by, regular members of the force. Reservists have no set amount of time to work; but in order to gain the right to expenses, they must work a minimum of 208 hours per year, with a minimum tour duration of 4 hours.

### Training Programme

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* Phase I – Two-day induction course (weekdays) at the Garda College, Templemore, County Tipperary: Garda Síochána, Human Rights, Discipline, Ethics and Organisational Culture
* Phase II – A 2-week all-inclusive course held at the Garda College (Monday–Friday, not including weekends): Retractable Baton, Incapacitant Spray, Tetra Radio
* Phase III – Two day Course (Weekdays) at the Garda College
* Phase IV – Minimum of 40 hours on-the-job training at a designated Garda Station, including accompanied beat patrol and station duty
* Phase V – 1-day attestation and graduation ceremony, held on a weekday at the Garda College[6]

Reservist duties include station duty (other than care and custody of detained persons), staffing of communications rooms, foot patrolling, static security duty, event policing, preservation of crime scenes, attendance as court witnesses, and assisting at road traffic checkpoints, collisions, fires, and other occurrences.[citation needed]

## Limited powers

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Reserve Gardaí wear the same uniform as regular members, with the letters GR on the shoulder number to distinguish themselves as reserve members. Reservists are permitted limited access to the PULSE system. They are not deployed in plain clothes, or allowed to carry firearms.

Duties and powers assigned to reservists are commensurate with their training, and primarily involve legislation relating to road traffic,[7] public order,[8][9][10][11] drugs, theft and burglary.

Garda Ranks

Reservists's powers are controlled and amended at the discretion of the Garda Commissioner in accordance with Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. Since 28 May 2007, these powers have encompassed limited Road Traffic Act powers and Section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1997.[12]

Additional reservist powers were announced by Alan Shatter, the previous Minister of Justice, including powers to deal with public order offences and the seizure of vehicles in accordance with Section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. These powers were granted on a phased basis, and implemented by the end of 2012. In 2015, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, confirmed the introduction of these powers.[13]

## References

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1. ^ "First Garda Reserve members graduate". RTÉ News. RTÉ. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 26 May 2007.
2. ^ Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Act 20). 2005.
3. ^ "Garda Reserves to receive greater powers". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
4. ^ "Garda Reserve: 13 Oct 2016: Written answers (KildareStreet.com)". kildarestreet.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
5. ^ "About the Garda Reserve". An Garda Síochána. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
6. ^ Síochána, An Garda. "Garda Reserve – An Garda Síochána – Ireland's National Police Service". garda.ie. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
7. ^ Road Traffic Act 1961 (Act 24, Section 41). 1961. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
8. ^ Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 (Act 2, Section 8). 1994. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
9. ^ Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 (Act 2, Section 21). 1994. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
10. ^ Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 Section (Act 2, Section 22). 1994. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
11. ^ Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 (Act 2, Section 24). 1994. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
12. ^ Irish Statute Book, Acts of the Oireachtas, Garda Síochána Act 2005 (Act 20, Section 15). 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2007.
13. ^ "Garda Reserves to receive greater powers". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.

## See also

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* Auxiliary police
* Special constable

* v
* t
* e

Law enforcement in Ireland

Republic of Ireland|

* Garda Síochána (Reserve)
* Military Police Corps
* Airport Police
* Dublin Harbour Police
* Dún Laoghaire Harbour Police
* Revenue Commissioners
* Criminal Assets Bureau
* Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement
* Director of Public Prosecutions

* Ireland portal
* Northern Ireland portal

Northern Ireland|

* Belfast Harbour Police
* Belfast International Airport Constabulary
* Larne Harbour Police
* Ministry of Defence Police
* Northern Ireland Security Guard Service
* Police Service of Northern Ireland
* Royal Military Police

Defunct|

* Belfast Borough Police
* Dublin Metropolitan Police
* Londonderry Borough Police
* Irish Republican Police
* Royal Irish Constabulary
* Royal Ulster Constabulary
* Criminal Investigation Department
* Ulster Special Constabulary

* v
* t
* e

Garda Síochána

Organised &
Serious Crime|

* National Bureau of Criminal Investigation
* Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau
* National Economic Crime Bureau
* National Cyber Crime Bureau
* National Immigration Bureau
* National Protective Services Bureau
* Technical Bureau
* Operational Support (Air Support Unit, Water Unit, Dog Unit, Mounted Unit)
* Criminal Assets Bureau

Security and
Intelligence|

* National Surveillance Unit
* Special Detective Unit
* Counter-Terrorism International
* Witness Security Programme

Traffic|

* Garda National Roads Policing Bureau
* Vehicles

Other units / structure|

* Garda Síochána College
* Emergency Response Unit
* Armed Support Units
* Public Order Units
* List of Garda districts
* Garda Síochána Reserve
* Garda Band

Scandals|

* Irish Phone Tapping Scandal (1982)
* "Rape Tape" Scandal (2011)
* Penalty Points Scandal (2012)
* Garda Phone Recordings Scandal (2014)
* Garda Whistleblower Scandal (2014)
* GSOC Bugging Scandal (2014)

Other|

* Garda Commissioner
* PULSE
* Gardaí killed in the line of duty
* Scott Medal
* Garda Museum
* Garda College Museum and Visitor Centre
* Garda ar Lár
* James "Lugs" Branigan
* Death of Terence Wheelock (2005)
* Death of George Nkencho

Oversight|

* Policing Authority
* Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
* Garda Síochána Inspectorate

Associated bodies|

* Garda Representative Association
* Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors
* Garda GAA

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