Lesson 3Lesson 3

History of Police forces on History of Police forces on the Island of Irelandthe Island of Ireland

1700s1700s

17861786 Dublin Police establishedDublin Police established

17871787 Baronial police formed to police the Baronial police formed to police the

remainder of Ireland (outside Dublin)remainder of Ireland (outside Dublin)

1800s1800s

18141814 Peace Preservation Force Peace Preservation Force created by Sir Robert Peelcreated by Sir Robert Peel

18221822 Establishment of the County Establishment of the County ConstabularyConstabulary

18321832 Revenue Police formed to Revenue Police formed to enforce excise lawsenforce excise laws

18351835 3 Police forces created in 3 Police forces created in Dublin, Belfast and Dublin, Belfast and Londonderry/DerryLondonderry/Derry

1800s contd1800s contd

18361836 The County Constabulary The County Constabulary forces were merged into a new forces were merged into a new centralised Constabulary of centralised Constabulary of IrelandIreland

18571857 Revenue Police and Irish Revenue Police and Irish Constabulary mergedConstabulary merged

18671867 Queen Victoria prefixes Irish Queen Victoria prefixes Irish Constabulary with ‘Royal’Constabulary with ‘Royal’

1867 – Royal Irish Constabulary1867 – Royal Irish Constabulary

Queen Victoria Queen Victoria granted the right to granted the right to use the insignia of use the insignia of the “The Most the “The Most Illustrious Order of Illustrious Order of St. Patrick”: the St. Patrick”: the harp, crown and harp, crown and shamrock.shamrock.

RIC Mounted Troop,Dublin, 1897

RIC, Mountpottinger, Belfast, 1892

Early 1900sEarly 1900s

19001900 RIC has approx 11,000 men RIC has approx 11,000 men (70% Catholic)(70% Catholic)

19201920 Royal Irish Constabulary Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve ForceReserve Force created created

(“Black (“Black & Tans”) & Tans”)

19201920 Ulster Special Constabulary Ulster Special Constabulary formed (“B-Specials”)formed (“B-Specials”)

circa 1914

19221922

Anglo Irish Treaty results in partition of Ireland Anglo Irish Treaty results in partition of Ireland and the RIC is disbandedand the RIC is disbanded

Irish Free StateIrish Free State The Civic Guard (later renamed An Garda The Civic Guard (later renamed An Garda

Síochána)Síochána)

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster Constabulary

Crests of the new forcesCrests of the new forces

Ranks of the PSNI & Garda Ranks of the PSNI & Garda SíochánaSíochána

An Garda SíochánaAn Garda Síochána CommissionerCommissioner Deputy CommissionerDeputy Commissioner Assistant CommissionerAssistant Commissioner Chief SuperintendentChief Superintendent SuperintendentSuperintendent InspectorInspector SergeantSergeant GardaGarda StudentStudent

PSNI

Garda Headquarters

Phoenix Park, Dublin

PSNI Headquarters

Belfast

An Garda SíochánaAn Garda Síochána

19251925 Dublin Metropolitan Police merged Dublin Metropolitan Police merged with An Garda with An Garda SíochánaSíochána

19391939 An Taca Síochána created An Taca Síochána created (auxillary Garda force to (auxillary Garda force to

support support during the war years)during the war years)19591959 Women allowed to joinWomen allowed to join19631963 Garda College established at Garda College established at

Templemore, Co. TipperaryTemplemore, Co. Tipperary20062006 Garda Reserve establishedGarda Reserve established

Poiteen seizure, Co. Mayo, late 1920’s

Commissioner O’ Duffy and Senior Officers, 1925

One of the first Garda Patrol Cars, Dublin, 1938

Kanturk, Co. Cork Station Party, 1948

Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster Constabulary

19301930 Traffic Branch formedTraffic Branch formed19431943 Women allowed to joinWomen allowed to join19691969 British Army deployed to British Army deployed to

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland19691969 Hunt enquiry brings Hunt enquiry brings change in change in

the RUC. B-Specials are the RUC. B-Specials are abolishedabolished

19691969 11stst Police Officer shot in “The Police Officer shot in “The Troubles”Troubles”

What years were these photos taken?What years were these photos taken?

Royal Irish Constabulary, circa 1914

Royal Ulster Constabulary, 1955

Very little change in the uniform during this period

RUC women recruits drilling at former depot in Enniskillen, 1965

1999 - The Patten Report1999 - The Patten Report

175 recommendations about 175 recommendations about policing in Northern Irelandpolicing in Northern Ireland

Evokes a provision that 50% of all Evokes a provision that 50% of all new recruits to the RUC must be new recruits to the RUC must be Catholic Catholic

A target is set that by 2010/11 A target is set that by 2010/11 30% of full-time Police Officers 30% of full-time Police Officers will be from the Catholic will be from the Catholic community (in 1998 just 8.3% of community (in 1998 just 8.3% of full-time Police Officers were full-time Police Officers were Catholic)Catholic)

20012001

On 4On 4thth Nov 2001 Nov 2001 RUC ceases to RUC ceases to exist.exist.

The Police The Police Service of Service of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is formed.is formed.

PSNIPSNI

20072007 From 1From 1stst August the British August the British army's military operation army's military operation

finished when finished when responsibility for responsibility for security security passed to the PSNIpassed to the PSNI

20082008 23.71% of full-time PSNI 23.71% of full-time PSNI Officers are CatholicOfficers are Catholic