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Gardaí at a Covid-19 checkpoint (file photo) Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

'Not a universal problem solver': Policing Authority cautions against more Covid-19 powers for gardaí

The Policing Authority’s monthly report on garda powers was published today.

GARDAÍ HAVE USED emergency powers to enforce the wearing of face coverings just six times since the mandatory use of coverings in certain places was introduced this year.

Figures contained in a new report by the Policing Authority also show that garda powers have been used five times due to breaches relating to international travel since the end of June.

The statistics are presented in the eighth in a series of reports by the authority to provide an assessment of the application of the Covid‐19 regulations by gardaí.

In his introduction to the report, Policing Authority Chairman Bob Collins sought to temper calls to re-introduce powers that would allow gardaí to enforce Covid-19 restrictions set out in the five-stage Living with Covid plan.

“There is a genuine and well‐founded concern that extensive new powers for gardaí, and their widespread use, might not be the panacea that is sometimes thought,” Collins said.

“Increased enforcement is not a universal problem solver. And it is not difficult to envisage a situation where the very considerable support for the role played by the Garda Síochana might be affected as a consequence.”

He also said there was “little evidence” that additional powers given to police in neighbouring jurisdictions eradicated any undesirable behaviours.

Collins explained that a ‘soft’ approach to policing Covid‐19 restrictions remained the preferred option of both the Government and gardaí.

“The authority recognises the need for individual members of society to take personal responsibility for their actions particularly in light of the potential implications for public health,” he said.

“There is nevertheless a need for an early and visible presence, and a graduated and consistent response by the Garda Síochána.”

Spit hoods

The authority noted that there have been 62 new incidents where gardaí have used enforcement powers under the Health Act 2020 since the last report on 11 September.

The 62 incidents mostly relate to the inspection of licensed premises under Operation Navigation.

There have also been eight additional uses of controversial spit hoods recorded since the last report, including one more use on a child, bringing the total number of uses to 112.

The hoods cover the heads of individuals who have been arrested in order to prevent them from spitting or coughing at police

As part of the report, the authority for the first time provided more detailed reports for 99 incidents where spit hoods were used.

In 14 incidents, gardaí perceived the detainee on whom a spit hood was used to have “obvious signs of a mental health issue”, though it was noted that this was not the case in 55 incidents and was unspecified in a further 30 incidents.

In one incident, a garda perceived an individual to have “obvious signs of a learning disability”.

And in 64 incidents where a spit hood was used, gardaí reported that detainees showed “obvious signs of intoxication”.

“While the authority’s reservations [about spit hoods] remain, it is positive to see the declining use of anti-spit hoods,” the report said.

The authority further reported that there were 14 additional incidents of gardaí being spat or coughed at since the last report, bringing the total to 206 since 12 April.

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    Mute Billy Nomates
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 8:33 AM

    Won’t hear from him again

    107
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    Mute Pixie McMullen
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 8:44 AM

    Drunk Monopoly : Fair play to him for landing in Siberia, He saved a bit of time by going straight to jail, Not passing Go and not collecting $200.

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    Mute Devilsavocado
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 8:26 AM

    I hate that when I’m so drunk and get on the wrong plane by mistake, the last time it happened the pilot was sound,, he dropped me off in Singapore then continued on to New York,, crazy day…..

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    Mute izotope
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 9:25 AM

    Twas Boris Yeltsin again.

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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 11:37 AM

    He won’t be russian into something like that again

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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 8:58 AM

    Black Dolphin has a spare bed for him

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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 8:24 AM

    Send him to New Zealand with a live streaming go-pro on him

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    Mute alan doyle
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 2:13 PM

    Tool. Imagine landing in Kabul, of all places, plastered. Can’t think the local cops would be too pleased to see a drunk and a drunk Russian. He’s lucky it landed where it did by comparison

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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 3:00 PM

    @alan doyle: Afghans can’t handle their drink. You hear of incidents all the time of drunk Afghans causing trouble in Germany.

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    Mute Ray Jakans
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 12:10 PM

    Nothing unusual. Its russia

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jan 23rd 2019, 12:22 PM

    They shoulda flown the drunk to Timbuctoo and dumped him there.

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