Significant responsibilities shared among numerous parties for the significant flaws revealed in the transport law enforcement review.
The Crowe report, commissioned by Garda Headquarters in 2023, has exposed significant cohorts of traffic gardaí not performing their duties effectively, with some openly hostile to doing their job. The report, which was released at a time when road deaths were climbing to their highest in a decade, paints a stark picture of underperformance and cultural problems within roads policing units.
The findings highlight a demotivated and demoralised minority of officers who demonstrate a blatant disregard for their roles. Some officers are found to be not concerned with doing an effective job, often parking their cars out of sight and only conducting checks close to their stations rather than on wider roads or intelligence-led patrols.
Key causes behind this failure include fear among some managers to address poor performance, leading to a lack of accountability within roads policing units. A broader cultural issue within the Garda, where fundamental shifts are required to address these systemic problems, is also identified. Lack of intelligence-led briefings and proactive policing, resulting in patrols that do not focus on wider crime or road safety issues, is another significant factor.
Senior management's strategic failure, with oversight agencies and Garda management having ignored demoralisation and performance issues for too long, is also a key issue. The report emphasises that without a fundamental shift in culture, including empowering managers to discipline work-shy gardaí, the problems outlined in the Crowe report will persist indefinitely.
The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, described the report as "stark reading" and emphasised the need for collective action to improve performance and rebuild trust. A working group and steering group have been established to implement the report's findings and address identified faults.
The Minister for Justice regarded the report as "of extreme concern" and stressed the importance of effective roads policing to reduce road deaths. In 2023, the number of road deaths in Ireland was 184, which is 29% higher than the pre-pandemic average.
The report also highlights that a minority of Roads Policing Unit (RPU) gardaí avoid doing their job, which significantly contributes to the high road death rate. The more senior ranks, including Drew Harris (Commissioner), Shawna Coxon (Deputy Commissioner), and Paula Hilman (Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing), are held responsible for ensuring the unit has the resources and policies to do its job effectively.
However, Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon and Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing Paula Hilman refused to comment on whether the RPU's failings played a role in the increase in road deaths.
In a positive development, Justin Kelly has been named as the new Garda Commissioner to succeed Drew Harris. The new Commissioner will face the challenge of addressing the issues highlighted in the Crowe report and implementing the necessary reforms to improve the performance and accountability of roads policing units in Ireland.
- The Crowe report, which exposes underperformance and cultural problems within roads policing units, reveals that a minority of Roads Policing Unit (RPU) gardaí intentionally avoid doing their job, contributing to the increased road death rate.
- In light of the Crowe report, highlighting the RPU's failings and their significant impact on the high road death rate, the new Garda Commissioner, Justin Kelly, will be tasked with addressing these issues and implementing the necessary reforms to improve the performance and accountability of roads policing units in Ireland.
