Paul Williams blasts Garda Commissioner for ‘over-policing’

Crime reporter Paul Williams has criticized Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for undermining the essence of An Garda Síochána, pushing the force toward a rule-bound, British-style approach that he believes doesn’t fit Ireland’s needs. “Drew Harris has tried to turn An Garda Síochána into another branch of Her Majesty’s Constabulary,” Williams says. “He has destroyed the guards. Guards are starting to leave in large numbers. It’s going to become a major crisis.”

This criticism comes after a historic vote of no confidence passed last year by members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA). The motion was overwhelmingly supported, with 98.7% of nearly 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí voting in favor. Harris responded by saying he should not have been subjected to the vote and insisted he would not resign. This marked the first time in the 100-year history of An Garda Síochána that a sitting Commissioner faced such a motion.

Williams argues that Harris’ leadership has removed the Gardaí’s community focus and eroded the vital discretion at the heart of Irish policing. “Discretion is vital,” he said. “Now we’re getting to a stage where the police are over-policing the law-abiding citizens. It’s easier to do a guy for driving 5km over the speed limit.”

He believes this shift has led to low morale, with skilled officers leaving earlier than ever. “One time they used to fight to stay on until they were 62 or 63. Now they’re getting out—highly skilled, well-capable people.”

Williams also highlights a case in Westmeath, where a Garda was suspended for lending a bicycle to a man in need during lockdown, calling it a “scandal.” “It’s a major case over a bicycle,” he said, “that he loaned to a man who had no way of getting around during the lockdown. What for?”

Reflecting on his early reporting days in Leitrim and Longford, Williams recalls a time when Gardaí had a strong bond with the public. “You’d ring around all the stations… and of course they’d tell you. There are no secrets.” He argues that this openness is disappearing, leaving communities in the dark.

According to Williams, Harris’ leadership is culturally mismatched for Irish policing, making it too rigid and eroding the rural and community connection that once set An Garda Síochána apart. “Culturally, we are Irish,” he said. “We have a way of being easygoing… discretion is vital.”

In response to criticism, An Garda Síochána stated that the UK’s policing model is different from Ireland’s, “The UK’s policing model is significantly different. In the UK, each area has its own distinct police service that operates in its own ways. In Ireland, we have a national police service.”

According to An Garda Síochána, the model reflects “international best practice as well as the realities of modern day policing in Ireland, the changing nature of crime and population trends,” and is designed to address challenges the force faces in a rapidly changing society.

In Williams’ view, the force risks losing its unique Irish identity as it adopts a model that is increasingly unrecognizable from the Gardaí of the past.

READ MORE: Paul Williams recalls his first job at the Leitrim Observer in CROOKS