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An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána
Common name Gardaí
Badge of An Garda Síochána.gif
Shield of An Garda Síochána
Motto Working with communities to protect and serve (Irish: Ag obair le Pobail chun iad a chosaint agus chun freastal orthu)
Agency overview
Formed 22 February 1922
Preceding agencies
Employees 16,328 (total)
13,093 sworn members
2,071 civilian staff
1,164 reserves
Annual budget €1.426 billion (2015)
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
National agency Ireland
Republic of Ireland without counties.svg
An Garda Síochána area of jurisdiction in dark blue
Size 70,273 km²
Population 4,588,252 (2011)
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin
Officers 14,257 (incl. 1,164 reserves)
Civilians 2,071
Elected officer responsible Frances Fitzgerald (T.D.), Minister for Justice and Equality
Agency executive Nóirín O'Sullivan, Garda Commissioner
Regions
Facilities
Stations 564
Vehicles 2,390
Boats Garda Water Unit
Aircraft 2 helicopters
1 fixed-wing surveillance aircraft
Canines Garda Dog Unit
Horses Garda Mounted Unit
Website
www.garda.ie
Footnotes
^ "Working with Communities to Protect and Serve" is described as mission statement rather than formal motto

An Garda Síochána (Irish pronunciation: [ən ˈɡaːrd̪ə ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə]; meaning "the Guardian of the Peace"), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí or "the guards" ([ˈɡaːɾˠd̪ˠiː] "Guardians"), is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Garda Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish government. Its headquarters are in Dublin's Phoenix Park.

The force was originally named the Civic Guard in English, but in 1923 it became An Garda Síochána in both English and Irish. This is usually translated as "the Guardian(s) of the Peace".Garda Síochána na hÉireann ("of Ireland", Irish pronunciation: [ˈɡaːrd̪ə ˈʃiːxaːn̪ˠə n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) appears on its logo but is seldom used elsewhere.

The full official title of the force is rarely used in speech. How it is referred to depends on the register being used. It is variously known as An Garda Síochána; the Garda Síochána; the Garda; the Gardaí (plural); and it is popularly called "the guards". Although Garda is singular, in these terms it is used as a collective noun, like police.

An individual officer is called a garda (plural gardaí), or, informally, a "guard". A police station is called a Garda station. Garda is also the name of lowest rank within the force (e.g. "Garda John Murphy", analogous to the British term "constable" or the American "officer", "deputy", "trooper", etc.). "Guard" is the most common form of address used by members of the public speaking to a garda on duty. A female officer was once officially referred to as a bangharda ([ˈbˠanˌɣaːɾˠd̪ˠə]; "female guard"; plural banghardaí). This term was abolished in 1990, but is still used colloquially in place of the now gender-neutral garda.


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Wikipedia

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