81 per cent trust the Gardai - survey

A recent online garda survey has shown that 81 per cent of people trust the gardai and 15 per cent view crime in their area as a serious problem.

The results of the survey, which show 53 per cent of victims of crime were satisfied with how Gardaí handled their case, come as statistics show that there were 7,599 burglaries reported to Gardaí in Meath in the past decade. During the same time period more than 100 people were arrested for sexual assault in the county.

The online survey showed that 85 per cent considered An Garda Síochána to be friendly/helpful.

This survey was carried out over four months (September – December 2020). 6000 adults were surveyed and a further, smaller sample of younger peope (16 – 17 year olds) were also surveyed, with parental consent, in November 2020.

Respondents represent a much higher level of urban dwellers and victims of crime than would normally be the case.

• 86% of respondents agreed that ‘Gardaí would treat you with respect if you had contact with them for any reason’

• Respondents highlighted that ‘sexual offences’ and ‘human trafficking’ should be the top priorities for An Garda Síochána

• 15% of respondents view crime in their local area as a serious problem

• Of those who reported being a victim of crime (20% of survey respondents) in the previous 12 months, 26% reported being a victim of online fraud. However, only 26% of those victims reported the matter to An Garda Síochána

• 53% of victims of crime were satisfied with how Gardaí handled their case. 26% stated they received ‘too little’ information, while 30% considered that they received no satisfactory update on the status of their investigation.

An Garda Síochána regularly measures public perceptions of crime and policing in Ireland. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions, their usual Public Attitudes Survey fieldwork had to be suspended in 2020 and

An Garda Síochána instead commissioned Amárach Research to conduct an online survey in 2020

A full public attitudes survey resumed in 2021 and the findings will be published by October 2022.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said; "Although we were unable to run a public attitudes survey in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the online survey provides An Garda Síochána with valuable insights into the views of victims of crime and urban dwellers. I am pleased with the high levels of trust and positive public engagement. The findings have been carefully considered by my senior management team and, as with any survey, this online survey highlights areas of concern and where An Garda Síochána can improve. We have already started to address some of these and further improvements to how we provide our service will be made over the coming year.”

66 % of respondents viewed national crime as a ‘very serious’ or ‘serious problem’, while 15% viewed local crime as a ‘very serious’ or ‘serious problem’.

Perceptions of national crime as a ‘serious problem’ were higher amongst older age groups, while perceptions about national and local crime as a ‘serious problem’ were higher in Dublin and the ‘rest of Leinster’.

Younger people (those aged 18-24 years old) were less likely to view local crime as a ‘serious problem’.

30% of respondents reported that they did not worry about themselves, or anyone they live with, becoming a victim of crime (personal injury or property crime).

Female respondents reported a greater level of worry about themselves, or someone they live with, becoming a victim of crime than males. Higher proportions of younger people (18-24 year olds) worried about becoming the victim of personal injury than any other age group.

Victims of crimes in the preceding 12 months reported greater levels of worry of future victimisation as opposed to non-victims of crime.

Females, older respondents and those from Dublin and the ‘rest of Leinster’, reported greater fears about the level of crime in Ireland, as did victims of crime in the previous 12-month period.

44% of respondents reported that a fear of crime had ‘no impact’ on their quality of life, with 8% reporting that a fear of crime had ‘greatly reduced’ or ‘significantly reduced’ their quality of life - this increased to 11% for respondents who had been a victim of crime in the previous 12 months.

Commenting Assistant Commissioner Hilman, responsible for community engagement, stated, "An Garda Síochána understands not only the direct impact of crime, but also the fear of crime on victims and communities. An Garda Síochána continues to engage locally and national with communities, local stakeholders and public representatives through Community Safety Partnerships, Joint Policing Committees, the National Rural Safety Forum and National Garda Diversity Forum amongst others to provide public reassurance and prevent crime through initiatives such as Text Alert, Neighbourhood Watch, and Campus Watch. A new Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD2) is at an advanced stage of development to enhance our current response capability to local communities."

20% of respondents said they were the victim of crime in the previous 12 months. This is a much higher victimisation rate than is typically found in nationally representative surveys (both Garda and CSO), and reflects the opt-in nature of the online survey. The fact that a higher proportion of victims of crime participated does provide An Garda Síochána with the opportunity to understand the views of this group.

26% of those who reported being a victim in the survey were the victim of online fraud and 18% were the victim of criminal damage. The high number of online fraud victims in this survey mirrors the sharp increase in this crime during the Covid-19 pandemic when increased targeting of victims through online platforms saw a surge in scams. While it was the most common crime type experienced by respondents in the 2020 survey, it was the least reported, at 26%.

When considering all the crime types experienced, 53% of victims had reported the incident to An Garda Síochána. While reporting rates varied by crime type, theft of a car was most likely to be reported at (87%).

Victimisation rates were higher amongst younger people (24.1% for 18-34 year olds, compared to 14.5% for those aged 55 and older) and for those living in city areas (23% compared to 17% in rural areas).

53% of victims reported being ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with how Gardaí handled their case, with 61% reporting that the ‘Gardaí responded quickly when they reported the incident’ and 68% were provided with ‘contact details’.

Whilst 44% of victims who reported their crime felt they received about the right amount of information afterwards, 26% thought it was too little and 30% said that they received no satisfactory updates.

An Garda Síochána Chief Information Officer Andrew O’Sullivan said, "An Garda Síochána is very much aware of the importance of providing information to victims of crime. Although letters are sent to all crime victims, we are working to introduce additional digital and interactive channels of communication to keep victims informed in ways that suit them .”

Sexual offences and human trafficking were the top two policing priorities identified in 2020, across all respondents. Robberies, illegal weapons, assaults and drugs offences were the next top priorities.

Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan Garda National Protective Services Bureau commented, "An Garda Síochána clearly identified Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences as a key focus in early 2020 and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Operation Faoiseamh and the implementation of Divisional Protective Service Units across every Garda division in 2020 demonstrates our commitment to tackling these crimes.” Further Detective Chief Superintendent Noonan highlighted that ‘An Garda Síochána has established a dedicated Human Trafficking Investigation and Coordination Unit and the first convictions for Human Trafficking under the 2013 legislation were recorded in 2021".

36% of respondents to the 2020 online survey reported being aware of Garda patrols in their local area. A slighter greater awareness of Garda patrols was reported in Dublin and ‘other urban’ areas.

Overall, 37% of respondents felt that Garda presence in their local area was ‘about right’. Younger respondents were more likely to report the perception of Garda presence as ‘about right’, though a small proportion (4%) of 25-34 year olds reported their perception that Garda presence was ‘too much’.

68% of respondents to the 2020 online survey were ‘very satisfied’ or ‘quite satisfied’ with the service provided to their local community by An Garda Síochána.

Older respondents (73% of 55-64 years and 77% of 65+ years) reported greater satisfaction levels, as did rural respondents (71%).

81% of respondents reported mid to high levels of trust in An Garda Síochána.

Older respondents expressed higher levels of trust, as did rural respondents (85%). Respondents who had a greater awareness of Garda patrols expressed a greater trust in An Garda Síochána (87%).

86% of respondents either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí would treat you with respect if you had contact with them for any reason and 69% ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí in their area treat everyone fairly, regardless of who they are.

Older age groups (>35) expressed greater agreement with the statement ‘that Gardaí would treat you with respect if you had contact with them for any reason’ than younger age groups.

50% of 18-24 year olds ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí in their area treat everyone fairly regardless of who they are, compared to 79% (55-64) and 85% (65+).

63% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí can be relied on to be there when you need them.

72% of respondents ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí listen to the concerns of local people, while 60% ‘strongly disagreed’ or ‘disagreed’ with the statement that community relations with the Gardaí are poor.

66% considered An Garda Síochána to be community-focused.

85% considered An Garda Síochána to be friendly/ helpful.

61% considered An Garda Síochána to be effective in tackling crime.

54% considered An Garda Síochána to be well-managed.

47% considered An Garda Síochána provides a world-class police service.

59% considered An Garda Síochána is modern or progressive.

16 and 17-year-olds expressed the view that national crime was a greater problem (62%) than local crime (20%).

36% ‘do not worry’ about becoming a victim of crime.

18% of this cohort worried about becoming the victim of personal injury.

38% have ‘very few fears’ or ‘no fears’ about levels of crime and 51% expressed the view that fear of crime had ‘no impact on quality of life’.

81% reported mid to high levels of trust in An Garda Síochána. 80% either ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí would treat you with respect if you had contact with them for any reason and 57% ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that Gardaí in their area treat everyone fairly regardless of who they are.