An Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) is the police force of Ireland. The headquarters of An Garda Síochána is located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The force, which is headed by a commissioner has as its motto, ‘Working with communities to protect and serve’
The Peace Preservation Act of 1814 brought about the establishment of the first police force in Ireland. However it was not until the 1822 Irish Constabulary Act was passed that the force was established in every province in Ireland. The Irish Constabulary were renamed the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in 1867. The Dublin Metropolitan Police had responsibility for Dublin and the cities of Belfast and Derry for a time but later became a separate division within the RIC. The RIC became the model for many other police forces around the world.
Following the ratification of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922 the RIC was replaced by new police forces, called the Civic Guard and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). When the Civic Guard was established Michael Staines from Newport Co Mayo was appointed as first Commissioner on August 17th 1922. The Civic Guard was later named An Garda Síochána. When the force was named An Garda Síochána Commissioner Staines stated, ‘The Garda Síochána will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people’. An Garda Síochána today has over 14,000 members. It is primarily an unarmed force.
An Garda Síochána was formed in the year 1922 On This Day.
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An Garda Síochána
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