GSOC’s transition to Fiosrú, The Office of the Police Ombudsman

The new Policing, Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Act 2024 provides for the continuation of GSOC as Fiosrú – Oifig an Ombudsman Póilíneachta (Office of the Police Ombudsman), changing its governance model from a three-person Commission to a single Ombudsman, with a structure that includes for the first time a Chief Executive Officer, enhancing Fiosrú’s powers and independence.

Key statutory objectives of Fiosrú include:

a) to promote public confidence in the processes for resolving complaints made by members of the public and in investigations;

b) to improve public understanding of role and functions of the Police Ombudsman;

c) to ensure that her functions are performed in a timely, efficient and effective manner and in accordance with fair procedures; and

d) to undertake research and analysis – in order to identify trends and patterns in complaints and investigations.

In preparation for the imminent commencement of the legislation in 2025, the work of GSOC staff gathered pace throughout 2024. This included:

Governance

• On 9 July 2024, following an open competition and approval by resolutions of both Houses of the Oireachtas, Emily Logan was formally appointed by President Michael D Higgins on commencement of the PSCS Act.
  As Police Ombudsman, she will be independent, accounting directly to the Oireachtas for her statutory functions.
• On 9 September 2024, GSOC welcomed the appointment of Sheila McClelland as its first Chief Executive-designate for Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman. Fiosrú will have its own vote and McClelland will be the Accounting Officer, accountable to the Oireachtas through the Committee of Public Accounts.
  Process reform
• Working with colleagues across the justice system to review and reform our processes based on new provisions in the PSCS Act 2024. This includes the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, and our sister organisations: the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate.
• Investing in our staff through a bespoke, post graduate, Law Enforcement Oversight Accreditation Programme at the University of Limerick on 28 January 2025, with 54 of our staff participating.
• Establishing new units; for instance, the development of a digital investigation unit, a specialist services unit and a statutory review unit to respond to the changing nature of policing itself, the operating environment and our oversight obligations.
• We will launch our new website for members of the public following the commencement of the Act.
• We are undertaking a significant project to develop a new case management system – a fundamental piece of infrastructure for performance, research and public accountability of Fiosrú.
• Fiosrú Process Reform project, to establish, in bilateral meetings with An Garda Síochána, the reformed systems, procedures, protocols and agreed lines of communication necessary for effective inter-agency cooperation in the delivery of the new legislations statutory functions.

We look to the future with optimism as we embark on a new journey of policing oversight.

We have been working on this transition from GSOC to Fiosrú since July 2021 so we are keenly awaiting the commencement date of Fiosrú. We look to the future with optimism as we embark on a new journey of policing oversight. At the forefront of all the work undertaken by GSOC and to follow, Fiosrú, is that we are equipped to provide the service that the public expects: efficient, effective, human rights based policing oversight that promotes accountability and enhances trust in ourselves as the largest oversight body in Ireland, in line with the vision outlined by the Commission on the Future of Policing. Commencement of the Policing, Security and Community, Safety Act 2024 is expected in March 2025.

E: info@gsoc.ie
W: www.gardaombudsman.ie
X: @gardaombudsman.ie