The Policing Authority’s assessment of policing performance in the first half of 2022 says there is “enduring concern” over the backlog and its impact on “the timeliness of investigations, the potential identification of victims, and the journey of victims through the criminal justice system”.

The backlog has implications for the investigation of sexual crimes, domestic abuse and coercive control as well as organised and white-collar crime.

“The current three-year backlog is a critical weakness for the Garda Síochána that has the potential to have considerable impact not only on investigations but on individual victims and suspects,” the report states.

“The increasing number of devices seized is a challenge to the Garda Síochána as it is to police services worldwide. Despite reported increases in productivity in terms of the triaging and analysing of devices, the backlog remains.

“The demands of modern policing are such that it is unlikely that the challenges around cyber and cyber enabled crime, which includes child sexual exploitation, are likely to abate.

“The Authority is of the view that significant and immediate action is now required from a resources planning perspective to meet the policing demands in this area, not least given the vulnerability and harm inherent in this type of criminal activity.”

Commenting on the report, Policing Authority chairperson Bob Collins said: “In this assessment, the Authority records its appreciation of the very significant policing successes in the first six months of 2022 and the very challenging circumstances that frequently confront Garda personnel in their work.

“Once again, however, it feels it necessary to draw attention to the continuing urgency of making and sustaining progress in the development of the organisational capacity of the Garda Síochána in areas that are vital to the quality of the policing service given to the public.

“These areas include human resources, workforce planning, training and development, and information and technology.

“These issues have been consistent subjects of attention since the establishment of the Authority. They will continue to be highlighted — to the commissioner and his colleagues, and also to the minister and the Department of Justice — as they are foundational in any attempt to improve the quality of the service given to the people.”