Policing Authority voices misgivings over ‘rebranding’ exercise

Josephine Feehily

The reforms would see resources divided between “hubs” in local areas focusing on crime, governance, community engagement and roads, The Irish Times reports.

Under the plans, a superintendent would have responsibility for a hub covering several districts rather than all duties in a local district, as is the case at present.

In a report to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, published by the authority yesterday, concerns were raised about the progress of reforms so far.

The report found that there was a danger the community function of the hub could be perceived as a “rebranding of the old district model rather than a new move to divisional policing”.

“It could be argued that some divisions were essentially replacing the district superintendent with a community engagement superintendent in the same number of areas,” the report said.

“The number of community engagement hubs has been reduced but it is still significantly more than that envisioned by the inspectorate,” it added.

“These hubs have the potential to develop the very inefficiencies and dysfunctions, in terms of inconsistency of service to the public, that the divisional model is directed as remedying.”

In a letter to Mr Flanagan accompanying the report, Policing Authority chair Josephine Feehily said the concern was due to “the range of governance risks which have emerged in roads policing”.