The Policing Authority is an independent statutory body established to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána in relation to policing services, to promote public awareness of policing matters and to promote and support the continuous improvements in policing in Ireland.   

The principal functions of the Policing Authority, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, are:

• To set priorities and performance targets for the Garda Síochána;
• To keep under review the performance by the Garda Síochána of its functions;
• To play a key role in the selection and appointment of senior personnel in the Garda Síochána, from Superintendent level to Garda Commissioner.

The Annual Report covers the Authority’s progress on the goals laid out in its Statement of Strategy 2019-2021, and meets the obligations of the Authority under the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The Code also requires the Authority to send a separate comprehensive governance report to the Minister.

The Authority’s engagement with the Youth Diversion Programme, covered in previous reports, reflects its focus on the vulnerability of children. The shocking murder of a teenager early last year was a vivid and vicious reminder that unscrupulous gangs are no respecters of immature children. On the contrary, they see advantage in luring them into the way of crime. The COVID-19 reports have revealed the increasing extent to which children are being drawn into the world of drugs as users and as accomplices and exposing them, and their families, to the ever present danger of intimidation. The Authority will continue its close interest in this vitally important area of work. And it will also continue to monitor the implementation by the Garda Síochána of the recommendations in the Garda Inspectorate’s report on Child Sexual Abuse. In this connection it has worked closely with the Implementation Group and will report regularly to the Minister when that Group’s work is completed.

From 8 April 2020 to 8 May 2021 there have been 3,803 crime incidents which were disclosed as a result of COVID-19 policing activities, representing an increase of 79 incidents since the last report. There has been no significant change to the crime types associated with these incidents with offences relating to roads, public order and drugs offences being the most frequently occurring.