The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) has published its assessment of the force’s policing performance throughout the first half of 2025.

Seven of 18 targets set out by An Garda Síochána are reported as “on target”, while the remaining 11 are “at risk”.

The report recognises progress in several areas, including the new Garda operating model becoming fully operational across all 21 divisions.

The commencement of high visibility foot patrols in key areas around Dublin city centre is positively acknowledged and the large volume of international cooperation to disrupt organised crime and to increase seizures of drugs and weapons is identified in the report as a significant policing success.

However, the report highlights areas where further development is needed to fully deliver on the policing priorities and commitments made within the 2025 annual policing plan.

The assessment highlights significant concerns about recruitment and retention of gardaí and Garda staff, management of Garda resources, delays in the introduction of key policies and strategies, and performance management issues.

The assessment is based on a wide range of engagement with garda members and staff at various ranks, as well as key stakeholders.

It is also based on reviews and analysis of performance reports and data received from An Garda Síochána, offering an evidence-based reflection of policing activities and outcomes.

Helen Hall, PCSA chief executive, said: “This assessment of policing performance is one way in which we let the public know how gardaí are doing against the Garda commissioner’s commitments in his annual policing plan.

“As the report shows, there were significant achievements in the first half of 2025, such as the rollout of the Garda operating model across all Garda divisions but also, and probably more obvious to the public in Dublin, the rollout of high-visibility patrols.

“However, we remain concerned about the lack of an effective performance management system for gardaí and Garda staff and the lack of progress in the introduction of in-career vetting and drug-testing.

“We are also concerned about the organisation’s capacity to address cybercrime cases, which are rising constantly. We are particularly concerned by the statements of many gardaí, who feel they do not have the relevant training to properly handle such cases.

“While we acknowledge the efforts An Garda Síochána is making to contact people who have reported domestic abuse within the required seven days, we are concerned about the inconsistencies across divisions and we reiterate the need to review the quality of these call backs.”