Building Trust

Attempting to find some common ground, both Gardaí and Travellers discovered that they mirrored each other's views, writes Neil Ward

Gardaí and Travellers' representatives are attempting to build a better relationship together as part of a multi-agency initiative in Co. Clare. While Gardaí in other parts of the country, notably Finglas, have pioneered the building of closer relationships, this is the first time that local Gardaí have been tasked as the lead agency to develop community integration with Traveller accommodation sites.

Community Gardaí from the Clare Division have been meeting with Travellers on the local accommodation sites and relationships are starting to improve.

Sergeant Michael Haran said, "We appointed a community Garda to each of the accommodation sites as a liaison person. Part of this role was to inform Travellers of the initiatives that Gardaí support. We also had to develop initiatives to work on together."

Since then a range of initiatives have been introduced and individual Gardaí have been working locally with Travellers. For Garda Albert Hardiman that has meant regularly visiting accommodation sites and training centres - to running summer camps and sports events.

Garda Albert Hardiman said, "We are trying to build a rapport with younger people through summer camps with sports coaching - covering soccer, Gaelic, rugby. We provided this package and every day we had some 50 kids at different intervals. Young people from the settled community and other ethnic groups attended.

"We are forging ahead. I know it's only at the initial stages but I can see it opening up in the next few years…The drugs culture has now entered the travelling community and this is worrying some of the elders."

Helen O'Sullivan manages St Joseph's Training Centre where tradition skills and crafts have been taught alongside contemporary vocational training to Travellers for over 40 years, and where the attendance is excellent and trouble free. She said, "Last year, 14 of our students gained their leaving certificates. The biggest change has been an inter-agency approach, with all of the projects working together.

"It's been a great experience working with the Gardaí and it is a two-way thing. It's a slow process but people here are starting to look beyond the uniform and see individuals rather than groups."

ESSENTIAL
Members of An Garda Síochána recently hosted a day session at the centre, bringing the station stamp to register many of the young people onto the electoral register.

Superintendent John Kerin is also a Director of St Joseph's and recently introduced this new initiative; and he has implemented that Community Gardaí are also ethnic liaison officers who are encouraged to form links with all members of the wider community.

Under this direction, student Gardaí are given placements for two weeks within one of the relevant organisations. Student Garda John O'Brien has just finished a placement at St Joseph's Training Centre, and was warmly welcomed by the staff and students. Sports coaching is also one of the initiatives and Albert Hardiman is hopeful of recruiting some of the Gaelic stars from the Garda College to come and host coaching sessions.

Superintendent John Kerin said, "From a management view we would consider this initiative as essential in this day and age. For years there was always a mistrust of the Gardaí by the travelling community. There is a perception that all members of the travelling community are involved in crime but that is anything but the reality of the situation.

"Travellers can see that we are supporting their education through our involvement in projects like St Joseph's training centre. We are not there just to deal with complaints against them; we are there to deal with their complaints too. It is going to take time for trust and goodwill to build up, but so far our members have done a good job. Barriers that were there are breaking down."

The Clare Youth Project also operates a Garda Youth Diversion Programme to fill the gap for the 13-18 year olds who are at risk of getting involved in crime. Youth worker Pat McMullin said, "We have had a great success rate with only two people re-offending in the last five years.

To capitalise on the perceived success of the work of the community Gardaí in forging these links, a more formal meeting was arranged to bring together representatives from both the Travelling community and Community Gardaí. The meeting was facilitated by Pavee Point, who provide specialist mediation services between the travelling community and those from outside.

Sergeant Michael Haran said, "I made the contact with Pavee Point to see if there were ideas we could develop. If we get a better understanding of each other then maybe we can work together."

BIG BARRIER
A meeting was held on 24th January 2007 in one of Clare County Council's facilities. Seven Gardaí were present at the meeting; Sergeant Michael Haran and six Gardaí responsible for the six accommodation sites in Co. Clare. All are trained as Ethnic Liaison Gardaí. Six members from the local travelling community attended, as did a representative from the County Council.

At the meeting, both parties talked about the mistrust that had been harboured for a long time. Describing relationships between the two groups, Garda Albert Hardiman said, "Some members of An Garda Síochána have better relationships with the travelling community than others - and it was felt that (in most cases) it would generally be the more senior Garda who had been working in the community for more than five or ten years; younger members were seen or perceived to have a more gung-ho or blunt style."

Gardaí also felt that communication is a big barrier. Members felt that the travelling community are reluctant to come forward and talk to An Garda Síochána because they don't want to be seen talking to 'the shades' and that parents are teaching these behaviour patterns to the children and we have to be able to form some sort of relationship with the young if we are to change anything.

Albert Hardiman said, "There is a lack of honesty from both sides. People feel that promises have been regularly broken. We need honest and trust."

Bridget Sherlock was the first Traveller to be employed by Clare County Council to 'get Travellers into employment' and she is active within various groups under the council's strategy; both under work and employment - and accommodation. She said, "Communication isn't great. Gardaí can use and direct abusive language towards our community and there is a lack of trust - from both sides. Guards do not know or understand our culture, and Gardaí do not take mental illness of disability into account when dealing with us; there is a need for respect between Travellers and Gardaí.

"Gardaí can stereotype Travellers; not all are the same but they are branded the same because they carry the logo of a Traveller. 'Good' Gardaí will not challenge their colleagues over bad practice."

FRICTION
Both groups had previously discussed when and why Travellers need the services of Gardaí and in what situations would a Garda presence be necessary or helpful. Albert Hardiman said that from a Garda perspective the most common time that the Garda service was needed was for conflicts within the communities themselves.

"Fights among the travelling community would be the most prevalent, usually in power struggles. We have a number of large families in the area who would all feel that they are the kingpins.

"We are the buffers. Our role would be to calm everything down and try to get everyone happy with the outcome.

"There are also a lot of traffic offences that come up - and as a result of this, Travellers will come to find a 'safe' Garda (one that they trust) to try and sort these out for them. The other worst-case scenario is when we have to move members of the community on. They can be most aggressive at this time...There seems to be a lack of accommodation and this can cause the greatest friction.

"Some of these issues are the same reasons that the settled community would come to us as well."

Bridget Sherlock said, "We came up with some similar views. One thing we said was that we are refused into places and when Gardaí do come it is important that they ask why we are being refused entry when others are being allowed in."

Domestic violence and feuding both within the travelling community, and with the settled community were also issues where they felt a Garda presence would be helpful - as well as traffic accidents, stamping passports and fines.

"Several of our group mentioned funerals; a Garda presence at funerals when there is no need gives a bad impression to the settled community and often there is no need for it," Bridget said, "There are a lot of similar answers, once again."

DISCOMFORT
So what are the barriers to providing an inclusive and effective policing service? There was a general consensus that members of An Garda Síochána have discomfort when dealing with Travellers.

Gardaí had bad feedback from with the community, and Gardaí felt that they were also prone to be stereotyped. Garda Hardiman voiced the opinion of the others. He said, "We know that there is a need to communicate. We need a spokesperson that we can call on at any time to deal with these issues.

"There is mistrust that has been well documented over the years. This has probably been there since the force was formed. If there is no feedback then there is little that we can do. Trust is the key issue."

Bridget Sherlock responded. She said, "Gardaí don't listen, they bypass us and go straight to the settled community for their side of the story. We also feel that the response times are too slow and we agree that Gardaí have some discomfort dealing with us.

"Gardaí portray our community as violent and treat all of us as one - when Gardaí are called out they don't come out for what they were called out for and start looking at vehicles.

"Gardaí also give the message to try and sort things out between ourselves. If Gardaí are called to an incident it is very unlikely that they will take the side of the Traveller - especially if it is to do with the settled community. When Travellers try to give their side of the story then Gardaí can put this down as giving cheek. Guards automatically blame Travellers.

"Travellers often give the impression that they will sort it out for themselves when really they would like to ask the Gardaí for help, but they don't feel able to. They don't trust the Gardaí and are afraid of being arrested or being beaten up while in custody.

"There is a lack of respect for Gardaí, they are afraid of Gardaí and fear that what they are saying would not be taken seriously."

The Garda group thought that the settled community's lack of knowledge and trust also caused a barrier, and that many had no communication with the travelling community.

POSSIBLE
How can relationships be improved at a local level and at a national level? Gardaí believe that both groups need to get involved in local initiatives. "We need education on both sides," said a spokesman for the Garda group.

Bridget Sherlock said, "To learn to sit down and talk and listen to each other without taking offence. This will build trust that needs to be there. This positive initiative will be talked about and will help to build relationships. There are a lot of similar areas between us."

It was agreed that another meeting was needed to try to work out some sustainable initiatives; at this future meeting both hope to clarify some goals, identify barriers to achieving these goals and to clarify the role of Gardaí in certain situations.

Sergeant Michael Haran was optimistic about the meeting. He said, "It's very early days but I believe that we achieved a lot this morning.

"I want to see some of these ideas coming to fruition. Any way that you can assist Gardaí and the public working together is going to have a positive impact on the job. We are public servants at the end of the day."

Kathleen McDonagh was also upbeat about the discussions. She said, "A few years ago I didn't think that Gardaí and Travellers would be sitting together and talking."

Caroline Keane from Pavee Point who facilitated the meeting said, "This meeting was very positive and the participation was very good. There was real optimism; people were hearing each other and exchanging points of view. There was some good energy in the meeting.

"Everyone could see what is possible."

Bridget Sherlock said, "It was very positive that Gardaí and Travellers were sitting together. It is the first step in a long process - and hopefully at the next meeting we will be able to get some positive action out of it.

"We hope to have a liaison set up on both sides to facilitate communication between us to act as a contact person if something happens or issues arise. We can give feedback to the accommodation sites. Travellers are interested."

Speaking after the meeting and having been briefed by members present, Superintendent John Kerin said, "The community Gardaí have had a huge positive impact on policing in the town. In the long term this approach will reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. We are there to enforce the laws in a fair and humane way, and to let people know that if they have any problems they can come to us.

"It's working for us, from a Garda perspective now. It's proactive policing… If community Gardaí are seen as social workers then that won't work either. There has to be that balance between law enforcement and the social aspect." (Garda Review Neil Ward)

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