81% satisfied with the Garda Siochana

[David Cochrane]

An Garda Síochana has used Milward Browne to conduct the Garda Public Attitudes Survey.

The report in full is available here.

The summary findings are:

81% satisfied with the Gardaí

9.2% said they or a member of their household has been a victim of crime since 2007

Of those who were victimised, 83% of people surveyed said they reported the crime to the Gardai, 3% less than 2007. 44% said they were satisfied with being kept informed by the guards.

91% of people surveyed said Gardai at their local station were "very approachable" or "approachable" - don't knows were excluded from calculating this figure.

8% of respondents said a member of the Garda Siochana had acted in an unacceptable manner, this figure is similar to 2007's figure.

When asked about what should be the policing priorities, respondents listed enforcing drug laws, ensuring immediate emergency response, youths racing in cars, underage drinking, state security, traffic laws and immigration.

[CookieMonster]

That's quite a good figure actually. Have to say I've never had a bad experience with that gardai.

[20000miles]

When asked about what should be the policing priorities, respondents listed enforcing drug laws, ensuring immediate emergency response, youths racing in cars, underage drinking, state security, traffic laws and immigration.

Catching murderers, thieves and rapists came further down the list.

[Aindriu]

What I found interesting is the statistic that most who complained lived in social housing. This beggars two questions:
1/ Do the gardaí act differently towards those who live in social housing?
2/ Do those who live in social housing see the gardaí as 'the enemy'?

[Big Bobo]

That's quite a good figure actually. Have to say I've never had a bad experience with that gardai.

Probably because you are a right wing conformist. The whole concept of the guards to to side with your type.

[dsmythy]

Yes Big Bobo, breaking up illegal demonstrations is their job too.

[CookieMonster]

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

I suspect that's where the "81% satisfied with the Gardaí" figure comes from.

[Munion]

The Gardaí are pawns of the capitalist class. Using socialist logic I am taking this as an 81% approval rating for right-wing neoclassical Darwinian liberalism elitism capitalism.

Go blue team!

[Big Bobo]

What I found interesting is the statistic that most who complained lived in social housing. This beggars two questions:
1/ Do the gardaí act differently towards those who live in social housing?
2/ Do those who live in social housing see the gardaí as 'the enemy'?

The whole purpose of the guards is to be a coercive body to protect the property of the rich and maintain inequality. Even if someone was living in extreme proverty and tried to take a small share of wealth from the extremly wealthy they would be hounded by the guards.

However in society a law force is needed to prevent violence, murder, rape etc and to a degree the guards do this which allows them to appear neutral in the eyes of some working class people. However when the chips are down they will always side with the rich and the ruling class. Just like when they battered thousands of miners in 84/85 at the request of some evil tory hag. Just like they take the side of corporations like Shell and attack protestors.

[Big Bobo]

The Gardaí are pawns of the capitalist class. Using socialist logic I am taking this as an 81% approval rating for right-wing neoclassical Darwinian liberalism elitism capitalism.

Go blue team!

You would be wrong to do so. As I have stated above many people mistaking believe the guards are a neutral force in society because they protect everyone from crime. But just because a force is needed to stop criminal activity does not mean we should allow the gardaí to so blatantly side with the rich and ruling classes everytime. The guards and army's piority isn't protecting the working class, only maintaining the privileged lives of the rich and ruling classes.