Discipline, and wellbeing in An Garda Síochána: An Irish policing case study

An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for policing and state security in the Republic of Ireland. Over the last decades, systemic issues have become apparent requiring change. Longitudinal analysis of discipline trends in AGS suggests that instead of resolving the systemic issues, more effort is placed on enforcing discipline to ensure compliance as the dominant management strategy in AGS. This paper suggests that the overuse of disciplinary measures has contributed to a culture of fear, reduced psychological safety, and decreased police officer wellbeing. Such a strategy ultimately risks damaging policing effectiveness as well as public trust and confidence in AGS.