The new face of An Garda Siochana; the Irish police force has put a cyclist in the middle of its new recruitment campaign as it tries to modernise.
A cyclist is the new face of the Garda's recruitment campaign which has been launched today.
As part of the new bid to hire hundreds of trainee gardai, the Garda force is trying to modernise its image and appeal to those people who never would have considering joined before.
And so in a bid to refresh that public image and move with the times, a female cyclist has been placed at the centre of its campaign.
It may not seem like the most significant move ever. But for a police force that has sometimes enjoyed an uneasy relationship with cyclists, it's interesting that a cyclist has been chosen to make the force look like its moving with the times.
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In the past some cyclists have clashed with the Garda over perceived inaction on illegal parking in cycle lanes.
And cyclists and the social media accounts run by the Garda recently were in dispute about sharing videos of motorists accused of motoring infringements that impacted on cyclists.
Against that backdrop, the placement of a cyclist as effectively the new public face of the Garda is a welcome move. And the fact the force regards presenting a cyclist as showing a modern, fresh image is also very interesting.
Aside from the woman dressed as a cyclist in the publicity campaign, the Garda has also said it is amending its uniform to allow turbans and hijabs.
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It is hoped that move will welcome more new members from ethnic minority groups in the Republic, which are under-represented in the Garda force at present.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the force was trying to broaden its appeal and particularly reach out to those who had never considered joining up and who may have skills they don't realise are transferable into policing.
“We need to become a much more diverse organisation so that we properly reflect the society we serve," he said in a statement announcing the campaign.
"That is why our campaign is focusing on people who might not have previously considered a career as a Garda member.
"They have the skills we need for a policing role, but they might not have thought they could transfer those to being a Garda.
"Fundamentally, we are looking for people who thrive on keeping people safe. Policing is a highly rewarding career where every day you can make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities.
"We want to encourage people from all walks of life to join us. We are looking for diversity not only in background, but also in skills.”
The Garda already has a cycling club and to of its members - Caroline Ryan and Eve McCrystal - have enjoyed considerable success on the international stage.
If you have expertise because of your interest in cycling, maybe those skills are more applicable to policing in Ireland than you think? Check out the campaign right here.
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