IPAT Situational Judgement 6 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You receive a call about a person threatening self-harm. What is your priority?
- Get to the person as quickly as possible, keep them talking, and call for medical assistance (Correct answer)
- Treat it as a low priority as it may be a bluff
- Send a message via radio and wait for specialist units
- Ask a colleague to handle it
Correct answer: Get to the person as quickly as possible, keep them talking, and call for medical assistance
Threats of self-harm must be treated as genuine and urgent. The priority is to reach the person, maintain communication, and secure medical support.
Question 2: A colleague offers to write part of your report for you because you are busy. What should you do?
- Decline — your report must represent your own first-hand account (Correct answer)
- Accept to save time
- Accept but review the report before signing
- Ask your supervisor if it is allowed
Correct answer: Decline — your report must represent your own first-hand account
A Garda's report is a first-hand account and must reflect their own observations. Having someone else write it would misrepresent the source of information and could be fraudulent.
Question 3: You stop a vehicle and the driver has an expired tax disc but current insurance. What is the appropriate action?
- Issue a fixed-charge penalty notice for the expired tax and advise the driver of the requirement (Correct answer)
- Ignore it as they have insurance
- Seize the vehicle immediately
- Arrest the driver
Correct answer: Issue a fixed-charge penalty notice for the expired tax and advise the driver of the requirement
Expired road tax is a fixed-charge offence. The appropriate response is to issue a penalty notice and advise the driver. Seizure and arrest would be disproportionate.
Question 4: You are asked to work a double shift unexpectedly. You feel too tired to work safely. What should you do?
- Inform your supervisor that you are not fit to perform the shift safely (Correct answer)
- Work the shift anyway to support the team
- Work the shift but take it easy
- Call in sick without explanation
Correct answer: Inform your supervisor that you are not fit to perform the shift safely
Officer wellbeing and public safety are both compromised by fatigue. Honest communication with a supervisor about fitness to work is the professional and safe course of action.
Question 5: A suspect claims they cannot understand your caution. What should you do?
- Explain it in simpler language and ensure they genuinely understand before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Repeat it exactly as before
- Continue regardless — you have fulfilled the legal requirement
- Have a colleague repeat it
Correct answer: Explain it in simpler language and ensure they genuinely understand before proceeding
The caution must be genuinely understood for it to be legally meaningful. You must ensure the suspect comprehends their rights, using simpler language or an interpreter if needed.
Question 6: You are writing a statement and realise you have made an error. What should you do?
- Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and write the correct information (Correct answer)
- Use correction fluid (Tipp-Ex) to cover the error
- Rewrite the entire statement without mentioning the error
- Leave it and hope no one notices
Correct answer: Draw a single line through the error, initial it, and write the correct information
Official documents must have corrections made transparently: cross out with a single line, initial the correction, and write the correct version. Covering errors with correction fluid is not permitted in official records.
IPAT Situational Judgement 6
You receive a call about a person threatening self-harm.
What is your priority?