What we do
Fiosrú is the Office of the Police Ombudsman. We are an independent policing oversight body.
We deal with complaints from members of the public about gardaí (police). A complaint can be about something a garda does or does not do that causes you concern.
Outside of complaints, we independently investigate serious matters involving gardaí where someone has died or been seriously injured.
Fiosrú may also investigate matters in the public interest.
Fiosrú is an investigative body. We do not have the power to discipline or prosecute a garda. Our role is to gather evidence as part of our investigations and then to send a report to An Garda Síochána or the Director of Public Prosecutions.
We are fully independent from An Garda Síochána and government. Our service is free.
For more on how complaints are made and investigated, please see our Complaints section.
Our objectives
By law, Fiosrú’s objectives are to:
- Promote public confidence in the processes for resolving complaints made by members of the public and in investigations;
- Improve public understanding of the role and functions of the Police Ombudsman, and
- Ensure that the Police Ombudsman’s functions are performed in a timely, efficient and effective manner and in accordance with fair procedures.
Our vision, mission and values
Vision
Our vision is for independent, accessible and effective policing oversight that has the trust and confidence of the public, the Oireachtas and gardaí.
Mission
Our mission is to deliver independent policing oversight, that is accessible to all and has the confidence of the public, through quality investigations that are timely, efficient, effective and fair.
Values
Our work is guided by our core values.
Independence
We will deliver our functions in a manner that is free from the influence of others. We will be independent in our evidence gathering, independent in our analysis of that evidence, independent in our evidence led decision making and independent in our reporting.
Impartiality
We will act in a balanced, unbiased manner in undertaking our statutory functions.
Integrity
We will act honestly, ethically, fairly and will adhere to the highest standards of behaviour in accordance with our Code of Ethics and the Civil Service Code of Standards of Behaviour.
Trusted
We will build confidence in our work through high professional standards and the high quality of our work.
Our history
Fiosrú was established in April 2025. It replaced the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) as Ireland's independent police oversight body under the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. GSOC was established in 2007.
Fiosrú is an Irish word meaning “inquiry”.
Watch our video to learn more about what we do