Policing

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has reaffirmed the new government's commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The commission, chaired by Kathleen O’Toole, former chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, issued its final report nearl

The chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland has urged US police forces to look to Ireland for lessons on police reform. Kathleen O'Toole was chief of the Seattle Police Department when she was appointed in 2018 to lead the high-profile review of An Garda Síochána.

The PSNI is facing renewed calls to suspend its use of spit hoods following new evidence that they provide no protection from COVID-19 and could in fact increase the risk of infection. The controversial restraint devices were made more widely available to officers at the end of March by Chief C

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal taken by a garda criticised by the Disclosures Tribunal. The appeal was brought from the judgment of the High Court primarily on the issue of objective bias.

The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has launched an investigation into the PSNI's enforcement of public health regulations at large public gatherings, including recent Black Lives Matter protests. The investigation will consider whether police have been consistent in their approach to issuing

The PSNI has "questions to answer" after taking a light-touch approach to far-right protests in Belfast a week after fining dozens of Black Lives Matter protesters, a solicitor has said. Hundreds of people attended a Belfast rally to "protect our statues" on Saturday, one of a handful of events orga

Lawyers, policing experts and community representatives will reflect on the policing of COVID-19 in Ireland in an online webinar tomorrow afternoon. The free event, moderated by Dr Vicky Conway, associate professor at DCU School of Law, will consider the "exceptional positives being achieved" by An

A proposed re-branding of the PSNI will not go forward for consultation in its current form following a sharp backlash from unionists. The force recently released images of proposed new branding featuring the crest alongside the words "Police Service NI".

A criminal defence lawyer who criticised safety measures at a specialist COVID-19 custody suite established by the PSNI in Belfast has bought his own personal protective equipment (PPE). Joe Rice, senior partner at John J. Rice & Co Solicitors, told the Belfast Telegraph that his firm has bought

Police powers used to fine hundreds of people at Black Lives Matter protests in Northern Ireland over the weekend came into force just hours before the protests began, it has emerged. Amnesty International and the Belfast-based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) have voiced concerns ov

The US city of Minneapolis is moving towards the abolition of its police department following weeks of protest sparked by the killing of George Floyd by one of its officers. Nine members of Minneapolis City Council have pledged to dismantle Minneapolis Police Department and introduce a new community

Gardaí have launched an investigation into whether a Black Lives Matter protest attended by thousands of people in Dublin broke public health restrictions introduced to tackle COVID-19. Under section 5 of the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A -Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) Regulations 2020, i

New Garda positions will be created in the US and Colombia to help tackle organised crime and terrorism, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has announced. Mr Flanagan said the Garda Liaison Officer Network would be expanded with new positions in Washington D.C. and Bogota following a request from Gar

Gardaí should lose the power to arrest people for failing to comply with public health guidelines in less than two weeks, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said. The rights group has called for the policing powers introduced under the Health Act 1947 (Section 31a – Tempor

A criminal defence lawyer has sharply criticised safety measures at a specialist COVID-19 custody suite established by the PSNI in Belfast. The new "interview room with a perspex screen" at the Musgrave police station "is inadequate at best, and downright dangerous at worst", solicitor Joe Rice