Dr. Johnny Connolly:

I am speaking about prior to that. We need to look at what is happening in the market to explain that change. We need to identify the harms we are trying to address and to acknowledge that while the Garda might be able to disrupt a market temporarily there will still be people who are looking for drugs who perhaps need to be diverted into treatment. It is essential that the Garda work with treatment organisations, and it is. In terms of a policy approach, both actions must go hand in hand. We need to change our conceptualisation in terms of the language we use and to focus our energy and resources on what we think are the most harmful aspects of a market. For example, in one of the areas I studied there was an open thriving market for crack cocaine in a particular shopping centre. As there is only one real shopping centre in this area one can imagine the impact this is having on the local community, in particular the young people in that community. That is a clear priority.

While it will not be possible to remove that market in its entirety, intensive engagement is required to disrupt it, not only because of the harm associated with that particular drug but because of its visibility. That in a sense is what I am talking about. This is what is happening on a European level. A worthy Irish focal point is the European monitoring centre on drugs and drug addiction based in Lisbon which, along with the Irish representative of that agency, Europol and the European Commission is looking at how we can improve our monitoring of the links between drugs and crime, drug markets and supply control activities in trying to develop an evidence base in this area.

As I mentioned earlier, I am currently engaged in a study with CityWide which is trying to put a number on the amount of incidents of intimidation on society. We all know this is happening. It has been reported to councillors and Deputies but it is not appearing in any official picture. From a Garda perspective this information, even if does not result in any prosecution - this is something that the Garda Inspectorate recently commented on - should be counted. Threats in this area generally escalate. As in the case of domestic violence, the first threat should be recorded somewhere because it will probably tend to escalate. Even if a reported incident does not end up in a prosecution we will, at least, at a policy level be able to get a handle on the extent of the problem, including who is making the threats and if they are coming from the same individuals and so on.