asked the Minister for Justice if he will investigate the feasibility to make it compulsory for security guards who wear uniforms similar to the Garda to wear a distinctive flash on the shoulders of their uniforms and shirts so that they are not mistaken for gardaí.
Written Answers. - Garda Uniforms Imitations.
24.
Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act, 1924, makes it an offence for a person other than a member of the Garda Síochána to wear any colourable imitation of the Garda uniform. As I indicated in reply to Question No. 78 on 27 May 1987, it has been represented to me that the provision in the 1924 Act for the legal protection of the Garda uniform is inadequate. However, I understand from the Garda authorities that there is no evidence to indicate that this is so. The matter has been the subject of consultations between my Department, the Attorney General's Office and the Garda authorities and, following these consultations, the Garda authorities have recently issued a circular to the force drawing attention to section 15 of the 1924 Act and directing that any suspected breaches of that section by an individual or group of individuals should be immediately investigated.
Should it emerge that there is a problem and that amending legislation is necessary in order to provide a solution, the question of introducing such legislation can be considered.