What We Do

What the Inspectorate Does

The Inspectorate advises the Minister of Justice, Equality & Law Reform on best policing practice.

The main body of the Inspectorate’s work relates to the operation and administration of the Garda Síochána.  Inspections are carried out at the request of, or with the consent of, the Minister for Justice.

Inspections and Inquiries

In conducting inspections and inquiries, the Inspectorate engages with police officers at all levels from senior management at headquarters to those conducting front-line policing duties.    The Inspectorate also interacts with the communities they serve.  The Inspectorate undertakes comprehensive analyses of policies and procedures in the Garda Síochána and benchmarks them against best practices and standards of comparable police services.  

The policy of the Inspectorate is to produce succinct reports that contain action-oriented recommendations attuned to the unique cultural conditions of the Irish policing environment.  

By law, all reports of the Inspectorate must be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).