Irish police to receive high-speed pursuit training from English forces

An Garda Síochána is working with English police, beginning with Devon and Cornwall Police, to train its driving instructors in high-speed vehicle pursuits, with the goal of certifying instructors before the end of the year. Denis Ferry highlighted that the Garda roads policing unit comprises 660 members, with 4,500 officers trained for emergency response but none yet specialized in pursuits. Brian Sugrue of the Garda College said only a few instructors will be trained initially, though collaboration with additional UK forces could increase that figure.

The training comes after high-profile incidents, such as a head-on collision on the M9 in Co Kildare that killed five teenagers and left four seriously injured. Ferry emphasized that preventing or safely ending pursuits, especially when vehicles travel against traffic flow, is a top priority, using tactics like stingers, air support, and coordinated regional control rooms. He also noted ongoing talks with social-media platforms to remove dangerous-driving content.