IPAT Situational Judgement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a search, you find drugs that were not the target of the search. What should you do?
- Seize the drugs, document the find, and report to your supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ignore them as they were not what you were searching for
- Tell the occupant they can keep them
- Seize them without telling anyone
Correct answer: Seize the drugs, document the find, and report to your supervisor
Any evidence of criminal activity found during a lawful search must be seized and documented, even if it was not the original target of the search.
Question 2: A fellow officer asks you to lie in your official report to protect them from a complaint. What do you do?
- Refuse and write an accurate report (Correct answer)
- Agree to help a colleague in need
- Write a vague report that does not mention the incident
- Ask a senior officer what to do before writing anything
Correct answer: Refuse and write an accurate report
Falsifying an official report is a criminal offence and a fundamental breach of Garda integrity. You must refuse and write an accurate, truthful account.
Question 3: A member of the public is verbally abusive to you but poses no physical threat. How should you respond?
- Remain calm, professional, and attempt to de-escalate the situation (Correct answer)
- Respond aggressively to assert authority
- Arrest them immediately for the verbal abuse
- Walk away and ignore them
Correct answer: Remain calm, professional, and attempt to de-escalate the situation
Professional de-escalation is always the first response to verbal aggression where there is no physical threat. Proportionality and composure are key Garda values.
Question 4: You are alone and encounter a violent altercation between multiple people. What is the priority?
- Call for backup immediately before intervening (Correct answer)
- Intervene physically alone to stop the fight
- Leave the scene
- Try to identify the aggressor and arrest them alone
Correct answer: Call for backup immediately before intervening
Lone intervention in a multi-person violent situation is dangerous and ineffective. Calling for backup first is the priority — officer safety enables effective policing.
Question 5: A road accident victim is unconscious. You have basic first aid training. What do you do?
- Apply first aid within your competence, call an ambulance, and keep the victim warm and still (Correct answer)
- Wait for paramedics to arrive before doing anything
- Move the victim to a safer location immediately
- Continue with your patrol and call the ambulance
Correct answer: Apply first aid within your competence, call an ambulance, and keep the victim warm and still
You must provide first aid within your training, call emergency services, and minimise further risk to the victim. Moving an unconscious accident victim risks spinal injury.
Question 6: A local politician tells you to drop an investigation against a friend of theirs. What do you do?
- Politely decline and continue the investigation on its merits (Correct answer)
- Drop the investigation to maintain good community relations
- Report it to a supervisor
- Ask the politician to make a formal request through the correct channels
Correct answer: Politely decline and continue the investigation on its merits
No political or social pressure can lawfully interfere with a Garda investigation. You must decline and continue based on evidence. Any undue pressure should also be reported.
IPAT Situational Judgement 3
During a search, you find drugs that were not the target of the search.
What should you do?