History of the Service
Organised policing commenced in Ireland in 1822 with the foundation of the Irish Constabulary. In 1922 that service was disbanded with the foundation of the Irish Free State, as the country was then called, and the Garda Síochána was formed. The Dublin Metropolitan Police, which had been founded in 1836, was amalgamated with the Garda Síochána in 1925.

Today, the Garda Síochána, as the national police service, exercises all police functions in the country. It provides the State security services and performs all criminal and traffic law enforcement functions.

The strength of the service is 11,230 which includes 1,700 detectives, who always operate in civilian attire. There are, in addition, 500 civilian employees, most of whom perform clerical work.

Uniformed members of the Garda Síochána do not carry firearms. It is a proud tradition of the service that standard policing is carried out, in both rural and urban areas, by uniformed officers equipped only with a modest wooden truncheon. Firearms are carried by detectives.

You can learn more about Europe's most unique Police Force at http://www.irlgov.ie/garda