The Garda is to undertake a major new study aimed at assessing how widespread the use of cocaine is in the State. The review will be carried out in the next 12 months by the Garda National Research Unit in conjunction with officers from the National Drugs Unit.
It is envisaged that the findings will be used to form the basis of a series of policing policy recommendations aimed at combating the use of the drug. News of the review comes at a time when cocaine-use continues to increase. Drug treatment and testing bodies throughout the State reported an increase in the levels of cocaine-users reporting for treatment last year.
Gardaí will also examine ways of identifying which Garda districts are worst affected by public order issues. Agreed indicators will be used in all 25 Garda divisions nationwide and the force will then focus on measures to redress public order difficulties.
The cocaine and public order research programmes are two of 19 policy proposals put forward in the Garda's 2003 Policing Plan, published yesterday.
Other planned policy studies include a review of the level and impact of absenteeism in the force. An "in-house staff climate" survey will also be devised.
A study of how gardaí respond to emergency calls when an immediate Garda presence is required will also be carried out. As part of this assessment, best practice in other jurisdictions will be reviewed and a policy document produced.
A comprehensive survey of public attitudes towards policing and the force showed that ensuring immediate responses to emergency call-outs was the public's top priority.
The public's second most important policing task priority was "targeting organised crime", with 84 per cent of respondents saying the matter should be of "very high priority" for the force.
The third most significant priority was "investigating crime", followed by the enforcement of laws relating to drugs and drink-driving, and "dealing with youths who race around in cars".
Other matters of most concern to the public were the enforcement of speeding laws, dealing with underage drinking, enforcing laws relating to white-collar crime and dealing with vandalism.
Surprisingly, the Garda's enforcement of the State's immigration laws was identified as a "very high priority" by just 35 per cent of respondents. Of least concern was the supervision of licensed premises, with just 24 per cent of those surveyed saying it was of very high priority.
The Policing Plan is published by gardaí every year. It lays down how the force intends to tackle law and order issues in the year ahead. It also identifies policy issues on which it intends to focus.
Yesterday's report also promised a more thorough investigation of fatal traffic accidents and an examination of how CCTV cameras could be used to gather criminal intelligence.
Last year the Garda Complaints Board noted that the slow progress in installing CCTV cameras in Garda stations had become a matter of "utmost concern".
