The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established in 2007 by the Garda Síochána
Act 2005 (as amended) (‘the Act’) under the aegis of Department of Justice. GSOC is responsible for receiving, processing
and investigating complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. GSOC also
has statutory responsibility for conduc...
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is an independent statutory body established in 2007 by the Garda Síochána
Act 2005 (as amended) (‘the Act’) under the aegis of Department of Justice. GSOC is responsible for receiving, processing
and investigating complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. GSOC also
has statutory responsibility for conducting investigations in circumstances where it appears that the conduct of a Garda,
or Gardaí, may have resulted in death or serious harm to a person. Such incidents are referred by the Garda Síochána so that
the public can be confident that these investigations are independently conducted. GSOC is empowered to investigate any matter,
even where no complaint has been made where it appears that a member of the Garda Síochána may have committed an offence or
behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings. In addition, it may investigate any practice, policy or procedure
of the Garda Síochána with a view to reducing the incidence of related complaints. GSOC’s mission is to provide an independent,
high quality and trusted system for dealing with matters involving the possible misconduct of members of the Garda Síochána,
in a manner which respects human rights and promotes public New legislation, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill
('PSCS Bill') is currently making its way through the Oireachtas. The Bill seeks to implement the recommendations of the Commission
on the Future of Policing in Ireland, and proposes a number of major changes in GSOC’s remit and powers. Some of the major
changes envisaged in the Bill include: - Replacement of GSOC with a new restructured agency called the Office of the Police
Ombudsman - Adoption of a new structure, moving from GSOC’s three-person Commission model to an Ombudsman/Deputy Ombudsman
model to ensure that the body has a clear and publicly identifiable leadership; - The new agency’s independence to be reinforced
by it becoming a Vote holding body with a new chief administrative officer assuming the responsibilities of accounting officer;
- Expansion of scope of the new agency’s remit, to include the fielding of all complaints in the first instance - An obligation
for timely and effective handling of complaints and conduct of investigations; - Streamlining of complaint and investigation
processes; - Increased information sharing; - Introduction of a research and data analysis function The Bill, both as initiated
and following amendments at Committee stage can be viewed HERE. GSOC is planning for the major transformation which this will
entail, both structurally and functionally, over the coming years as a result of the proposed new legislation, as well as
other changes in its operating environment. A core aspect of this is the winding-up of GSOC as a corporate entity, and the
transfer of its functions to the new Office of the Police Ombudsman. Achieving this will require the design and development
of a new website for the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
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