An Garda Síochána has today published the results of its 2015 Public Attitude Survey, which canvassed the views of 6,000 people nationally during the year.
85 Per Cent of Public Trust An Garda Síochána – An Garda Síochána Public Attitude Survey
- Majority of victims of crime satisfied with service provided
- Majority view organisation as "friendly or helpful”, "community focused”, "modern or progressive”, and "effective in tackling crime”
- Majority of respondents believe crime is a serious problem nationally, but not a serious problem in their local area
- Survey results used to inform initiatives on victim services, community policing, prevention of key crime types, and investigation of crimes against vulnerable victims
Results from the survey have been used to inform An Garda Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal Programme, which includes improvements in services to victims of crime, a strong focus on crime prevention, and a new approach to community policing.
"The results of the 2015 Public Attitude Survey show there is strong trust in An Garda Síochána, particularly at local level. Having such a high level of trust demonstrates the great work being done by all members, staff and reserves every day to protect and support communities,” said a Garda spokesperson.
"The survey has also shown that while the majority of victims are satisfied with how we handled their incident, we still have more work to do in ensuring victims are getting the information they want on the progress of their case and the supports available to them. To ensure we address this issue we will be shortly conducting focus groups with victims of crime, as well as carrying out an evaluation of the 28 Victim Service Offices, which were established 15 months ago. This shows our commitment to listening and learning to victims of crime and improving our service to them based on this feedback.
"Furthermore, during 2015, we invested in our investigation training, introduced targeted multi-stranded operations to reduce key crime types such as burglaries, and established a specialist unit - the Protective Services Bureau - to investigate sexual crime and human trafficking.
"The 2015 survey results now give us a baseline against which the public’s view of the impact of the improvements in our Modernisation and Renewal Programme over the coming years can be measured.”
The survey, which was conducted by Amarach Consulting and was of a nationally representative sample of the population, looked at:
• Perceptions of crime (nationally and locally).
• Satisfaction levels amongst victims of crime.
• Satisfaction levels amongst all respondents on the policing service provided to their local community.
• What crime types respondents would like An Garda Síochána to prioritise.
• Trust in An Garda Síochána.
• Perceptions on the capability and effectiveness of the organisation.
When asked about crime nationally, the majority of respondents believed it was a serious problem. However, when asked about their local area, they did not consider it to be a serious problem.
• When asked about crime nationally, 31 per cent of respondents stated that it was a very serious problem, 45 per cent a serious problem, 19 per cent something of a problem and 2 per cent stated that it was not a problem.
• When respondents were asked about crime in their local area there was a drop in whether they viewed it as a serious matter. Seven per cent regarded it as a very serious problem, 24 per cent a serious problem, 46 per cent something of a problem and 21 per cent stated that it was not a problem.
Eleven per cent of respondents had been a victim of crime in the last 12 months. The majority of victims were satisfied with how the incidents were handled, however there was also a significant minority that were not.
• There were 682 victims of crime, representing a victimisation rate of 11% for the sample as a whole.
• The key crimes they experienced were burglary (25%), criminal damage (19%), assaults and theft of a bike (both at 9%).
• Not everyone who was a victim of crime reported this to the Gardaí. Of the 682 victims of crime 174 (or 26% of the victims) did not report the incident. The key reasons for not reporting a crime were that respondents believed that the Gardaí could not do anything, that they would not do anything or that the incident was not serious enough to report.
• When victims of crime were asked to describe the handling of a crime incident by An Garda Síochána the majority were satisfied (57%). However, 41 per cent were dissatisfied.
• The majority of respondents were also satisfied with the service they received in terms of Gardaí responding quickly to the incident, being given the investigating Gardaí’s name and contact at the local Garda station. However, a minority of respondents recalled receiving a crime/PULSE numbers (34%) and information on victims help lines/services (33%).
• Victims of crime were more likely to see crime as a serious issue locally compared to non-victims.
Overall, respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the service An Garda Síochána provides to the local community.
• Seventy per cent quite of respondents were satisfied with the service provided to their local community. Twenty three per cent were dissatisfied with the service provided.
• Perceptions of crime were associated with satisfaction with the service provided to the local community. As perceptions of the crime situation improved, with more respondents stating that it was not a problem, there was also an increase in satisfaction with the service provided to the local community.
• Victims of crime were relatively less satisfied with the service provided to the local community than non-victims of crime.
Respondents had significant levels of medium to high levels of trust in An Garda Síochána.
• Eighty five per cent of respondents had a medium to high level of trust.
• Trust was associated with perceptions of crime. Increases in trust levels were matched with reductions in the perception of crime as a problem.
• Victimisation reduced the levels of trust in An Garda Síochána, with victims of crime having lower levels than non-victims of crime.
• There is an association between trust and satisfaction with service provided to the local community. Levels of satisfaction and trust both increased at the same time.
Respondents had a positive view of the organisation in terms of it being friendly or helpful, community focused, modern or progressive, and effective in tackling crime. However, the majority of respondents disagree that An Garda Síochána provides a world class service and is well managed.
• Most respondents agreed that members of An Garda Síochána are ‘Friendly or helpful’ (81%), that it is ‘Community focused’ (61%), ‘Modern or progressive’ (59%) and ‘Effective in tackling crime’ (57%). For the last three groupings around one third of respondents disagreed with the statement.
• A minority of respondents stated that An Garda Síochána ‘Provide a world class police service’ (38%) or that it was ‘Well managed’ (47%).
• There was an association between perceptions of crime and respondents’ views on the organisation. As the perception of the crime problem decrease, the levels of agreement with the statements begin to increase.
Respondents would like An Garda Síochána to focus on crime against the person more so than other crime types.
• Respondents stated that crimes against the person (sexual assaults, human trafficking and assaults) were a higher priority for them than crimes against property.
• When respondents were asked to consider the crimes that were ‘Low priority crimes’ the ones that featured most prominently were Public Order (16%), Traffic Offences (6%) and Criminal Damage (4%).
• Whilst there were some variations for all age groups, sex and social class groupings their main priority was sexual offences.
The Public Attitude Survey is continuing in 2016 with 1,500 people being interviewed each quarter. The 2016 Public Attitude Survey has two additional questions on police visibility and the fear of crime. Focus groups will also be conducted to examine issues such as what information victims of crime want to receive from An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána Suirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail 2015
D’fhoilsigh an Garda Síochána torthaí an tSuirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail 2015, inar cuireadh ceist ar 6,000 duine ar fud na tíre i rith na bliana.
Tá iontaoibh ag 85 faoin gcéad den phobal sa Gharda Síochána – Suirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail maidir leis an nGarda Síochána
- Móramh na n-íospartach sásta leis an tseirbhís a fuair siad
- Féachann móramh na ndaoine ar an eagraíocht mar cheann atá "cairdiúil nó cabhrach”, "dírithe ar an bpobal”, "nua-aimseartha nó forásach”, agus "éifeachtach ó thaobh dul i ngleic leis an gcoireacht”
- Creideann móramh na bhfreagróirí gur fadhb thromchúiseach go náisiúnta í an choireacht, ach nach bhfuil fadhb thromchúiseach leis an gcoireacht ina gceantar áitiúil
- Úsáideadh torthaí an tsuirbhé chun treoir a thabhairt do thionscnaimh maidir le seirbhísí d’íospartaigh, póilíneacht phobail, cosc ar phríomhchineálacha coireachta, agus imscrúdú ar choireanna i gcoinne íospartach leochaileach
Baineadh leas as torthaí an tsuirbhé chun Clár Nuachóirithe agus Athnuachana an Gharda Síochána a threorú, ina n-áirítear feabhsúcháin ar sheirbhísí d’íospartaigh na coireachta, inar díríodh go láidir ar chosc na coireachta, agus inar glacadh cur chuige nua maidir le póilíneacht phobail.
"Taispeántar i dtorthaí an tSuirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail 2015 go bhfuil iontaoibh láidir sa Gharda Síochána, go háirithe ar bhonn áitiúil. Léiríonn leibhéal ard iontaoibh mar sin go bhfuil obair den scoth ar siúl ag gach ball, foireann agus ag an bhfoireann chúltaca gach lá chun pobail a chosaint agus tacú leo,” a dúirt urlabhraí ó na Gardaí.
"Taispeánadh sa suirbhé freisin cé go bhfuil bunáite na n-íospartach sásta leis an mbealach ar láimhseálamar a n-eachtra, tá tuilleadh oibre le déanamh againn fós lena chinntiú go bhfuil íospartaigh ag fáil an eolais atá ag teastáil uathu ar dhul chun cinn a gcáis agus ar na tacaíochtaí atá ar fáil dóibh.
D’fhonn a chinntiú go dtéimid i ngleic leis an gceist seo beimid ag reáchtáil grúpaí fócais go luath le híospartaigh na coireachta, chomh maith le measúnú ar an 28 Oifig Seirbhíse d’Íospartaigh, a bunaíodh 15 mhí ó shin. Léiríonn sé sin ár dtiomantas chun éisteacht agus foghlaim maidir le híospartaigh na coireachta agus ár seirbhís dóibh a fheabhsú bunaithe ar an aiseolas seo.
"Ina theannta sin, i rith 2015, rinneamar go leor oibre ar ár n-oiliúint imscrúdaithe, thugamar isteach sprioc-oibríochtaí ilsraitheacha chun príomhchineálacha coireachta a laghdú cosúil le robálacha, agus bhunaíomar aonad speisialaithe - An Biúró Seirbhísí Cosanta - chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar choireacht ghnéis agus ar gháinneáil ar dhaoine.
"Tugann suirbhé 2015 bonnlíne dúinn anois agus ina choinne sin féadfar tuairim an phobail maidir le tionchar na bhfeabhsúchán inár gClár Nua-chóirithe agus Athnuachana sna blianta seo amach romhainn a thomhas.”
Féachadh sa suirbhé, a rinne Amarach Consulting agus a bhí ionadaíoch do shampla náisiúnta den daonra, ar na rudaí seo a leanas:
• Tuairimí maidir leis an gcoireacht (go náisiúnta agus go háitiúil).
• Leibhéil shástachta i measc íospartach na coireachta.
• Leibhéil shástachta i measc gach freagróra ar an tseirbhís póilíneachta a cuireadh ar fáil dá bpobal áitiúil.
• Cén cineálacha coireachta ba mhaith le freagróirí go dtabharfadh an Garda Síochána tús áite dóibh.
• Iontaoibh sa Gharda Síochána.
• Tuairimí maidir le hinniúlacht agus le héifeachtacht na heagraíochta.
Nuair a chuirtear ceist maidir le coireacht go náisiúnta, chreid go leor de na freagróirí go bhfuil fadhb thromchúiseach leis. Mar sin féin, nuair a cuireadh ceist orthu maidir lena gceantar féin, níor cheap siad gur fadhb thromchúiseach
• Nuair a cuireadh ceist faoi choireacht go náisiúnta, dúirt 31 faoin gcéad d’fhreagróirí go raibh fadhb an-tromchúiseach leis, 45 faoin gcéad a dúirt go raibh fadhb thromchúiseach leis, 19 faoin gcéad a cheap go raibh fadhb éigin leis agus dar le 2 faoin gcéad nach raibh aon fhadhb ann.
• Nuair a fiafraíodh de na freagróirí faoi choireacht ina gceantar féin bhí titim ar cibé ar cheap siad gur rud tromchúiseach é. Mheas seacht faoin gcéad go raibh fadhb an-tromchúiseach leis, 24 faoin gcéad fadhb thromchúiseach, 46 faoin gcéad a dúirt go raibh fadhb éigin ann agus 21 faoin gcéad a cheap nach raibh aon fhadhb ann.
Bhí aon faoin gcéad d’fhreagróirí ina n-íospartach coireachta le 12 mhí anuas. Bhí bunáite na n-íospartach sásta leis an mbealach ar láimhseáladh na heachtraí, mar sin bhí mionlach suntasach nach raibh sásta.
• Bhí 682 íospartach na coireachta, ag léiriú ráta íospartaigh de 11% don sampla trí chéile.
• Ba iad na príomh-choireanna a bhí ag cur isteach orthu ná robáil (25%), damáiste coiriúil (19%), ionsaithe agus gadaíocht rothar (an péire ag 9%).
• Níor thug gach duine a d’fhulaing coireacht tuairisc maidir leis do na Gardaí. As an 682 íospartach coireachta níor thug 174 (nó 26% de na híospartaigh) tuairisc faoin eachtra. Ar na príomhchúiseanna nár tuairiscíodh coir chreid na freagróirí nach raibh na Gardaí in ann aon rud a dhéanamh, nach ndéanfaidís aon rud nó nach raibh an eachtra sách tromchúiseach le tuairisc a thabhairt faoi.
• Nuair a iarradh ar íospartaigh na coireachta cur síos a dhéanamh ar an gcaoi ar láimhseáil an Garda Síochána eachtra coireachta bhí an móramh acu sásta (57%). Mar sin féin, bhí 41 faoin gcéad míshásta.
• Bhí móramh na bhfreagróirí sásta freisin leis an tseirbhís a fuair siad i dtéarmaí an fhreagra tapa a thug na Gardaí ar eachtra, gur tugadh ainm an Gharda imscrúdaithe dóibh agus iad in ann teagmháil a dhéanamh ag stáisiún áitiúil na nGardaí. Mar sin féin, luaigh mionlach beag freagróirí go bhfuair siad uimhreacha coireachta/PULSE (34%) agus faisnéis ar línte cabhrach/seirbhísí d’íospartaigh (33%).
• Bhí níos mó seans ann go mbreathnódh íospartaigh na coireachta ar choireacht mar cheist thromchúiseach go háitiúil i gcomparáid le daoine nach íospartaigh iad.
Ar an iomlán, bhí freagróirí sásta nó an-sásta leis an tseirbhís a thugann an Garda Síochána don phobal áitiúil.
• Bhí seachtó faoin gcéad d’fhreagróirí sásta leis an tseirbhís a tugadh dá bpobal áitiúil. Bhí fiche faoin gcéad míshásta leis an tseirbhís a soláthraíodh.
• Ceanglaíodh tuairimí maidir leis an gcoireacht le sástacht leis an tseirbhís a tugadh don phobal áitiúil. De réir mar a d’fheabhsaigh na tuairimí maidir le staid na coireachta, agus níos mó freagróirí ag lua nach raibh fadhb leis, tháinig méadú freisin ar an sástacht a bhí leis an tseirbhís a cuireadh ar fáil don phobal áitiúil.
• Bhí íospartaigh na coireachta go bunúsach níos míshásta leis an tseirbhís a tugadh don phobal áitiúil ná mar a bhí daoine nach íospartaigh na coireachta iad.
Bhí meán nó ardleibhéil shuntasacha iontaoibh ag freagróirí sa Gharda Síochána.
• Bhí meán nó ardleibhéal iontaoibh ag ochtó cúig faoin gcéad d’fhreagróirí.
• Bhí iontaoibh ceangailte le tuairimí maidir leis an gcoireacht. Bhí méaduithe ar leibhéil iontaoibh ar aon dul le laghduithe ar an tuairim go bhfuil fadhb leis an gcoireacht.
• Laghdaigh íospairt na leibhéil iontaoibh sa Gharda Síochána, agus bhí leibhéil níos ísle ag íospartaigh na coireachta ná mar a bhí ag daoine nach íospartaigh choireachta iad.
• Tá ceangal déanta idir iontaoibh agus sástacht leis an tseirbhís a sholáthraítear don phobal áitiúil. Mhéadaigh na leibhéil shástachta agus iontaoibh ag an am céanna.
Bhí tuairim dhearfach ag freagróirí maidir leis an eagraíocht a bheith cairdiúil nó cabhrach, dírithe ar an bpobal, nua-aimseartha nó forásach, agus éifeachtach ag dul i ngleic leis an gcoireacht. Mar sin féin, ní aontaíonn formhór na bhfreagróirí go soláthraíonn an Garda Síochána seirbhís den chéad scoth agus go bhfuil sé dea-bhainistithe.
• D’aontaigh formhór na bhfreagróirí go bhfuil baill an Gharda Síochána ‘Cairdiúil nó cabhrach’ (81%), go bhfuil sé ‘Dírithe ar an bpobal’ (61%), ‘Nua-aimseartha nó forásach’ (59%) agus ‘Éifeachtach ag dul i ngleic leis an gcoireacht’ (57%). I gcás na dtrí ghrúpa dheiridh níor aontaigh thart ar aon trian de na freagróirí leis an ráiteas.
• Luaigh mionlach de na freagróirí maidir leis an nGarda Síochána go ‘Soláthraíonn sé seirbhís póilíneachta den chéad scoth’ (38%) nó go raibh sé ‘bainistithe go maith’ (47%).
• Rinneadh ceangal idir tuairimí maidir leis an gcoireacht agus tuairimí na bhfreagróirí faoin eagraíocht. De réir mar a laghdaíonn an tuairim maidir le fadhb na coireachta, tosaíonn na leibhéil atá ar aon intinn maidir leis na ráitis ag dul i méid.
Ba mhaith le freagróirí go ndíreodh an Garda Síochána ar choireacht i gcoinne an duine níos mó ná ar chineálacha eile coireachta.
• Luaigh freagróirí go raibh siad ag tabhairt tús áite do choireanna in aghaidh an duine (ionsaithe gnéis, gáinneáil ar dhaoine agus ionsaithe) níos mó ná do choireanna i gcoinne réadmhaoine.
• Nuair a iarradh ar fhreagróirí smaoineamh ar na coireanna a cheap siad gur ‘Coireanna iad a raibh tosaíocht íseal ag gabháil leo’ is iad na cinn is mó a tháinig chun cinn ná an tOrd Poiblí (16%), Cionta Tráchta (6%) agus Damáiste Coiriúil (4%).
• Cé go raibh éagsúlacht áirithe i gcás gach aoisghrúpa, i ngrúpaí gnéis agus aicmí sóisialta is cionta gnéis an tosaíocht ba mhó a bhí acu.
Táthar ag leanúint leis an Suirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail in 2016 agus agallamh á chur ar 1,500 duine gach ráithe. Tá dhá cheist bhreise sa Suirbhé ar Dhearcadh an Phobail 2016 maidir le hinfheictheacht na ngardaí agus an eagla roimh an gcoireacht. Reáchtálfar grúpaí fócais freisin chun imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar cheisteanna cosúil le cén t-eolas atá íospartaigh na coireachta ag iarraidh a fháil ón nGarda Síochána.
