{"id":11059,"date":"2021-03-09T10:00:44","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T10:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cassandravoices.com\/?p=11059"},"modified":"2021-03-09T10:00:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T10:00:44","slug":"policing-must-return-to-first-principles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casswp.eutonom.eu\/index.php\/2021\/03\/09\/policing-must-return-to-first-principles\/","title":{"rendered":"Policing Must Return to First Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers, but by their moral authority as servants of the people.<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/strong>Michael Joseph Staines, First Garda Commissioner (1885-1955)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The above statement is, in my opinion, a good founding principle for any Police Service in a free democracy. What is meant by \u201cmoral authority\u201d? Merriam Webster defines this as \u00a0 \u2018trustworthiness to make decisions that are right and good.\u2019 This is authority based on principles \u2013 norms which are independent of written, or positive, laws.<\/p>\n

Under its current leadership, An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na has become increasingly politicised by this government and its predecessor. This undermines the moral authority which Michael Staines rightly recognised as being so vital to its success as a Police Service. The Garda\u00ed should indeed be servants of the people, not private political and ideological enforcers. Unfortunately, we are seeing policing in Ireland increasingly take its cue from the double standards of its hypocritical political masters.<\/p>\n

Last April, Garda\u00ed broke up a demonstration by ordinary citizens protesting the loss of their jobs at Debenhams. Ironically, in light of recent events, the Debenhams protests were endorsed by prominent voices from the Irish Left<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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However, in June 2020 \u00a0a five thousand-strong Black Lives Matters protest paraded through Dublin with hardly a Garda in sight. This demonstration, supposedly in the middle of a deadly pandemic, drew no condemnation<\/span><\/a> from the political establishment \u2013 quite the contrary<\/a><\/span>, in fact. There was no rush to social media to raise any public health concerns, nor to condemn the protest as an affront to the \u201cpeople who have sacrificed so much\u201d, \u201cfrontline workers\u201d, and \u201cthose who have died.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Last December, there was a media blackout and no arrests made<\/span><\/a> after BLM violence in Blanchardstown. This is in stark contrast to the political, media, and Garda reaction to an anti-lockdown demonstration last Saturday 27th<\/sup> February in Dublin where peaceful protestors were met by a phalanx of Garda\u00ed (both mounted and on foot) who were suited and booted with dogs and batons at the ready, long before the lobbing of a firework by one individual set off a media storm of condemnations.<\/p>\n

There have also been political, media, and enforcement double standards<\/span><\/a> in relation to funerals<\/span><\/a> under government restrictions<\/a><\/span>, as well as other incidents<\/a><\/span>, notably parties<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The behaviour<\/a><\/span> of Garda\u00ed at evictions<\/a><\/span> has also been called into question. The role of An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na at an eviction is quite clear: they are there to prevent a breach of the peace and to ensure the safety of all concerned. If they witness a breach of the peace or any other offence, then they are duty-bound to act. It really is that simple. With respect to the assertion in an Irish Independent article<\/a><\/span> that \u2018An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na is a learning organisation\u2019 and the request for an urgent external report so that the organisation can \u2018learn lessons\u2019 \u2013 \u00a0isn\u2019t that exactly the purpose of \u00a0the expensive two-year training course which Garda recruits undergo?<\/p>\n

There have been other incidences of the organisation and its members acting inappropriately and outside of its remit in furtherance of various agendas unrelated to policing, such as participation by a Garda<\/span><\/a> in the \u201cYes\u201d equality campaign, and the organisation\u2019s promotion of vaccines<\/a><\/span> on social media.<\/p>\n

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Over the course of #COVID19<\/a>, a special bond has been strengthened between An Garda Sioch\u00e1na & The HSE. A relentless support for us at all times, helping to keep people safe, secure, protected & healthy. We are with you all at this time and always. @HSELive<\/a> @gardainfo<\/a><\/p>\n

— Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) February 27, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n