Michael McDowell
Question:210 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the ratio of gardaí to citizens in the State compared with other OECD countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7218/96]
Written Answers. - Citizen-Garda Ratio.
The present ratio of gardaí to population in the State is 1:328.
The ratio of gardaí to citizens in the State compared to other EU countries, most of which are also members of the OECD, is set out as follows for 1993, the latest year for which figures are available.
In looking at comparisons of this kind, one has to ensure that one is comparing like with like. In some of the other jurisdictions listed, a much higher proportion of civilians are employed in the police service than is the case here and some of these civilians are engaged on duties that would be regarded here as police rather than civilian duties. It is also the case that some of the countries listed have much higher crime levels than we do. It would be quite wrong, in other words, to conclude that this country is either under or over resourced in policing terms by reference to these figures.
Principal Police Forces in the EU—1993
|
Country |
No. of population per police officer |
|
Belgium |
305 |
|
Denmark |
499 |
|
France |
247 |
|
Germany |
281 |
|
Greece |
261 |
|
Ireland |
337 |
|
Italy |
191 |
|
Luxembourg |
355 |
|
Netherlands |
301 |
|
Portugal |
220 |
|
Spain |
215 |
|
United Kingdom |
372 |
Source:Report published by the Centre for Study of Public Order, University of Leicester.