Law enforcement

The Garda Síochána is the national police force. It has responsibility for carrying out all policing duties in the State.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or Garda Ombudsman is an independent agency that deals with complaints from the public about members of the Gardaí.

If you are a victim of a crime you should contact the Gardai. Find out how to report a crime.

There are laws in place designed to give the Gardai (Irish police force) clear and comprehensive legal powers to deal with crowd control.

The Criminal Justice Act 2006 has provisions dealing with anti-social behaviour by adults. These provisions allow gardaí to deal with anti-social behaviour through a civil process using behaviour warnings and orders or ASBOs.

The Gardaí have the powers to arrest without warrant people guilty of certain public order offences.

The Adult Cautioning Scheme can be an alternative to prosecution for certain offences where a caution is considered to be in the public interest.

The courts can impose restrictions on the movements of those convicted of some minor offences as an alternative to imposing a custodial sentence. Find out when they are used here.

The supervision of sex offenders following release from prison is provided for by the Sex Offenders Act 2001. Find out more here.

The courts can impose extra restrictions on a sex offender following release from prison if it is felt the sex offender may pose a serious threat to the public.