PCSA publishes Garda performance review for 2025

The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) has released its 2025 Annual Assessment of Policing Performance. This independent evaluation of An Garda Síochána's service delivery and progress towards its 2025 goals is a key report in the policing landscape. Of the 18 targets set in the Annual Policing Plan, ten were met, seven were at risk, and one failed to be achieved, specifically in community engagement.

Positive outcomes included the ongoing success in detecting and neutralizing organized crime, which received a boost from robust cooperation with Europol and international law enforcement allies. High-visibility patrols in Dublin have improved public visibility and aided intelligence-led policing efforts against local criminal organizations. However, the report also noted that the National Children and Young Person's Plan, a key initiative, was not finalized in 2025.

The PCSA observed a significant decrease in burglaries since the implementation of Operation Thor. Yet, retail theft, particularly in Dublin, is a growing concern. The mandatory domestic abuse call-back rate in 2025 reached 77%, albeit with considerable disparities among Garda divisions.

This assessment, conducted by the newly established PCSA in April 2025, relied on in-depth analysis of performance reports and data from An Garda Síochána, along with extensive consultations with police personnel and external stakeholders. PCSA Chair Elaine Byrne remarked, "the report underscores substantial accomplishments in 2025, particularly in combating organized crime, enhancing community safety partnerships, and improving victim services.

Nevertheless, critical issues persist, including workforce capacity, specialist resource allocation, performance management, and community engagement. Resolving these challenges is vital to guaranteeing An Garda Síochána's ability to address the evolving policing and community safety demands of the public."