· All Garda personnel will be trained in a human rights based approach under the first Human Rights Strategy launched by An Garda Síochána today.
· As part of the strategy, five key priority areas have been identified for review during Q1 2020. These are:
- Use of Force (including Firearms)
- Use of Garda Vehicles in pursuit of other vehicles
- Victims of Crime Policy
- Arrest and Detention (Custody Management)
- Public Order
· For the first time An Garda Síochána has appointed a senior member as Human Rights Advisor. This operational role holder is available to commanders to assist and advise in matters pertaining to human rights.
An Garda Síochána has today published its Human Rights Strategy 2020-2022 that will see a range of measures introduced to ensure it is delivering a human rights focused policing and security service.
The Report of the Commission of the Future of Policing in Ireland states that the protection of human rights is fundamental to the purpose and mission of policing, saying that human rights must therefore be embedded in the thinking, ethos and operations of the Garda personnel at all levels.
Over the last year, An Garda Síochána has introduced a number of measures in this area under the Government’s A Policing Service for the Future including:
- The establishment of a Garda Human Rights Section
- The hiring of a Senior Legal Advisor Ms Ruth Fitzgerald BL to advise on the development of the Human Rights Strategy
- The re-establishment of the Garda Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee
- Appointment of a Garda Human Rights Legal Advisor to advise operational commanders
- Publishing key policy documents including a Human Rights Framework Human Rights Screening Tool and Operational Guidance Document to assist Garda Personnel
- Placing human rights – along with the Code of Ethics – at the centre of the Garda Decision Making Model
The Human Rights Strategy 2020-2022 builds on these developments with a seven step ‘action plan’ that takes account of the recommendations of the Commission Report, An Garda Síochána’s Mission & Strategy 2019-2021, as well as addressing An Garda Síochána’s obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights Equality Commission Act 2014.
The seven action plans outlined in this Human Rights Strategy 2020 – 2022 are:
- The delivery of training to new and existing Garda personnel
- The embedding of a recognition of human rights into the day-to-day work of Garda personnel and ensuring Operational Orders such as Use of Force (Firearms), Use of Garda Vehicles in pursuit, Victims of Crime Policy, Arrest and Detention, and Public Order, are all reviewed in the context of this new strategy.
- Ensuring that An Garda Síochána keeps abreast of developments in the area of human rights developments
- Monitoring compliance with human rights
- Addressing external recommendations
- Assessing implementation of the Strategy, and
- Developing a successor Strategy.
Speaking at the launch of the Strategy, Commissioner Harris said, “A human rights ethos should be central to how we police and seek to maintain public confidence in An Garda Síochána. Moving human rights to the centre of policing delivery has an impact beyond those we directly interact with. Policing then becomes a vital cog in protecting the human rights of all citizens”.
“As recommended by the Commission, and in line with our obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights and Irish law, An Garda Síochána is committed to delivering a human rights focused policing and security service.”
The Garda Human Rights Strategy 2020 – 2022 is being introduced under the Government’s A Policing Service for the Future plan.
Operational Support
The position of Human Rights Legal Advisor has been created and assigned to Inspector Michael McNamara who is available to operational commanders to assist and advise on matters pertaining to human rights. The Human Rights Legal Advisor can advise operational commanders at both the planning and execution stage of major policing events. In this regard, Inspector McNamara provided human rights support to the Operational Commander Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins for the US Presidential visit in June 2019.
Strategic Development
The Human Rights Strategy was created with the assistance of a Senior Legal Advisor, Ms Ruth Fitzgerald, BL. The Strategic Human Rights Advisory Committee (SHRAC) have been briefed on the Human Rights Strategy, and they will have a critical role in overseeing its implementation.
The Report of the Commission recommended that An Garda Síochána develop a comprehensive human rights strategy for human rights compliance and promotion, including measurable actions, monitoring and evaluation.
