THE Garda move to allow turbans and hijabs as part of uniforms has been welcomed by minority groups – with several looking to join up, the Irish Sunday Mirror can reveal.
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey announced on Thursday it was looking to recruit officers from different ethnic backgrounds.
Until now the vast majority of the ranks have been filled with members from a predominantly Irish Catholic background.
But the latest move has gone down very well with Muslim and Sikh communities across Ireland – with a number already inquiring about training.
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A senior source said: “The reaction has been very positive indeed.
“These minority communities have been contacting Garda HQ over the past few days to see how their members can apply to become officers. This is a whole new departure for the gardai. And the response since Thursday has been great.
“We didn’t expect such a reaction from these communities.
“Ireland is now more diverse and An Garda Siochana is aiming to reflect that.
“It is a landmark decision and this forward-looking thinking is what is needed in a modern force for all of society.” The new recruitment campaign, entitled The Difference Is You, is being spearheaded by Mr Twomey and his experienced senior executive management team.
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It comes just two weeks after the Garda reserve recruited 99 new trainees from seven countries as well as the Republic.
Assistant Commissioner Orla McPartlin welcomed the new reserves from Romania, Lithuania, Georgia, Germany, Wales and the North.
