One of the key CSO recommendations from the review of the quality of PULSE data in 2021 was the requirement for a comprehensive end-to-end review of the AGS incident reporting and recording system. CSO advised that this should have a particular focus on examining the risks of agreed AGS procedures for the reporting and recording of crime not being followed.
In 2022, AGS commissioned an independent review of the process for ensuring data quality. This review was done for the AGS and not this CSO review and CSO relies on its own judgement and quality work to form its own assessment. Nevertheless, there are overlaps between the areas examined by the independent review and some of the areas covered by the CSO review. The independent review noted that AGS had made significant strides to improve data quality in PULSE since challenges were first identified.
The review concluded that there were good controls in place, with some opportunities for improvement in some cases. The following table summarises the independent assessment of the risks and controls in place to mitigate against those risks to PULSE data quality.
| Independent assessment of AGS data risk controls | |
| Risk details | Control Status |
| Incidents reported through CAD are not transferred or recorded accurately, appropriately or timely on PULSE | In place |
| Incidents not reported through CAD are not recorded accurately, appropriately or timely on PULSE | In place with opportunities to improve (e.g., full implementation of GardaSafe will minimise this risk |
| Incidents reports initiated on PULSE by AGS members (other than GISC) in previous 24 hours are reviewed by GISC | In place |
| Incident reports on PULSE are not complete, accurately or recorded in line with International Crime Classification Purposes (ICCS), CSO requirements and AGS processes | In place with opportunities to improve (e.g., utilise further data quality reviews to enhance these controls) |
| On an annual basis, a sample of 50 incident reports (crime and non-crime) previously reviewed by a GISC data quality member are reviewed by a Higher Executive Officer in the GISC team for completeness, accuracy, appropriateness and timely review | In place |
| Ongoing incident investigation activity is not recorded on PULSE appropriately, accurately, completely or on a timely basis | In place with opportunities to improve (e.g., documentation of PAF meetings and more detailed metrics) |
| Insufficient GISC resources to input, update and review incident reports in a timely manner to the required standard | In place |
