31 March 2025 — The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) welcomes today’s publication of the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR)’s report on policing and racial discrimination. Commissioned by the Policing Authority, the new study, entitled “Still Not Heard, Still Not Safe”, reveals that people of African descent and Brazilians in Ireland continue to experience racial profiling and discriminatory policing, and have a deep lack of trust in An Garda Síochána.
The findings of this report build on similar findings from previous reports, including a joint report published by ICCL and INAR in 2024, "Policing and Racial Discrimination in Ireland: A Community and Rights Perspective". In recent years, international and regional monitoring bodies, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and civil society organisations have all voiced concerns about the inadequate response to racial profiling in Ireland.
While the report documents some positive individual experiences of policing, participants reported a wide range of negative experiences, including the use of stop and search powers, property damage and wrongful arrests, with long-lasting effects and a wider ripple effect of fear, anxiety and uncertainty amongst racialised communities.
Only 19% of 172 people surveyed believe they would be treated fairly if they made a complaint against the Gardaí. Individuals also reported being deterred from reporting crimes, as the Garda response is perceived to be unhelpful and, in some cases, harmful to victims.
Racial profiling is a violation of human rights and An Garda Síochána has a legal obligation (under the public sector duty) to identify and combat all forms of discrimination. Among other measures, INAR is calling for a legal ban on racial profiling, improved oversight of racial profiling complaints and statutory disaggregated data collection. ICCL fully endorses these recommendations.
As the new oversight structure under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 comes into effect this week, it is crucial that the Policing and Community Safety Authority and Fiosrú (the Office of the Police Ombudsman) scrutinise An Garda Síochána’s commitment to human rights-based policing.
ENDS
For media queries: Ruth McCourt ruth.mccourt@iccl.ie / 087 415 7162