Dublin & Waterford — In a significant shift for Irish policing, 128 frontline uniform Gardaí will begin carrying tasers today as part of a six-month pilot program. This marks the first time that ordinary patrol officers in Ireland have been authorized to carry Conductive Energy Devices (CEDs), which were previously restricted to specialist units like the Armed Support Unit (ASU) and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).
Focus Areas and Training
The pilot is being rolled out across four key stations in areas where body-worn cameras are already in operation:
- Dublin: Store Street, Pearse Street, and Kevin Street stations.
- Waterford: Waterford City Garda Station.
Each of the 128 officers selected has completed a rigorous three-day training course. The training is grounded in the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights to ensure that any use of the device is proportional and lawful.
Addressing Rising Assaults
Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary stated that the move is a direct response to the changing realities of frontline policing. Statistics show that assaults on Gardaí have risen significantly, with a record 470 assaults recorded in 2023.
“The taser pilot is about giving specially trained Gardaí a controlled, less-lethal option when every other approach has failed or isn’t safe,” Cleary said. He emphasized that the devices would only be used in situations involving a “clear and immediate threat.”
Oversight and Controversy
Every deployment of a taser must be recorded on a body-worn camera and reported to Fiosrú (the Office of the Police Ombudsman). While the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has welcomed the move, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has expressed concern, warning that the introduction of such weapons could fundamentally change the relationship between the police and the community.
