Frequently Asked Questions

To report a crime or a missing person you should ring your local Garda Station

• Information about reporting a missing person is available in the Missing Persons Section
• In the case of emergency ring 999.
• To report an incident in confidence ring the Garda Confidential Telephone Number 1800 666 111.

You should call 999 in the case of an emergency. An emergency is any incident which requires an immediate Garda response. Examples of emergencies are:-

• A danger to life
• Risk of serious injury
• Crime in progress or about to happen
• Offender still at scene or has just left

In all other circumstances when reporting a crime you should contact your local Garda Station. You can find out details of your local Garda Station in our Station Directory. Anyone with information regarding a crime can also ring the Garda Confidential Telephone Number 1800 666 111.

Contact details of your local Garda Station should be readily to hand in both your home and place of work, and on speed dial on your home and mobile phones. 

The best way of thanking a member of An Garda Síochána is to write to the Superintendent in charge of the station to which the guard is attached.

You can ask a Garda for his or her name, Registered Number and Station at the time of the incident. If it is after the event and you do not have the Garda’s details, you can ring your local station for help in identifying him or her.

E-mail is not currently available at all Garda Stations.

If you have lost your passport, or if it has been stolen, you should immediately report the loss to the Passport Office or to your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate. To obtain a new passport you need to complete a passport application form [APS1 if resident in the State, APS2 if resident elsewhere]. This should be witnessed by a Member of An Garda Síochána if you are resident in the State or by one of the eligible witnesses listed on the APS2 form if you live elsewhere. For further information please visit the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

It is advisable to have a photocopy of your passport with you when travelling. This will greatly assist in getting an emergency passport if your passport is lost or stolen.

There are 14,547 members of An Garda Síochána. These are broken down per Rank as follows:

Commissioner: 1
Deputy Commissioner: 2
Assistant Commissioner: 11
Chief Superintendent: 39
Superintendent: 167
Inspector: 317
Sergeant: 2,078
Garda: 11,932*
Total: 14,547

*This includes Probationer Gardaí at Phase IV of their Student/Probationer training as these members have been attested.

Figures valid as at 31.12.09.

For information on renewing your GNIB card and for other information relating to Immigration please visit our page about the Garda National Immigration Bureau

Yes. Any person (including existing firearm certificate holders) may apply for a new firearm certificate for a firearm (on form FCA1) under the new legislation which came into force on 1st August 2009.

For further FAQ's in relation to Firearms licensing, please see "Firearms Licensing" tab on left.

All persons arrested are informed firstly why they are arrested and if they are detained, the duration of their detention will vary depending on the particular power of detention used.  Each case is different, however please see document below - 'Guidance on Detention Periods' which is a summary of the various powers of detention – this is provided as guidance only!

'Guidance on Detention Periods'

Person can be detained for up to 24 hours:

• First 6 hours – extended by Sergeant
• Second 6 hours – extended by Superintendent
• Final 12 hours – extended by Chief Superintendent

Offences which carry 5 year jail term qualify. 

* See 1. below for reasons why clock can be stopped.

Person can be detained for 72 hours:

• 24 hours
• 24 hours – extended by Chief Superintendent
• 24 hours – extended by District Court.

Offence usually involves firearms/explosives.

# See 2. below for reasons why clock can be stopped. 

Person can be held for up to 7 days:

• 6 hours
• 18 hours – extended by Chief Superintendent
• 24 hours – extended by Chief Superintendent
• 24 hours – Chief Superintendent applies to District Court for extension
• 72 hours – Chief Superintendent applies to District Court for extension.

# See 2. below for reasons why clock can be stopped.

• 6 hours – extended by Sergeant
• 18 hours – extended by Superintendent
• 24 hours – extended by Chief Superintendent
• 72 hours – Chief Superintendent applies to District Court for extension
• 48 hours – Chief Superintendent applies to District Court for extension.

# See 2. below for reasons why clock can be stopped.

Offences which qualify for Section 50 detention –

w Murder involving the use of a firearm or explosive,

w Murder in which Section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1990 applies (includes the murder of a Garda or

     Prison Officer).

w An offence under Section 15 of the Firearms Act 1925 (replaced by Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act 

     2006) – possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life …. Minimum sentence – 10 years …. Maximum

     sentence – Life imprisonment.

w An offence under Section 15 of the Non Fatal Offences against the person Act 1997 involving the use of  

     firearm (false imprisonment).

*1.  With consent of prisoner a rest period will apply between the hours of 12am and 8am, this is  
       excluded from period of detention – effectively the clock is stopped.

       Clock is also stopped if prisoner needs to attend hospital and also if taken to court in connection
       with an application relating to the lawfulness of his detention.  Again, this time is excluded from 
       the period of detention.

# 2. Clock is stopped if prisoner needs to attend hospital and also if taken to court in connection
       with an application relating to the lawfulness of his detention.  Again, this time is excluded from 
       the period of detention.