Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Page 98 of the programme for Government contains a commitment to building successful rural and community policing. At a recent meeting of the joint policing committee in Leitrim, we discussed the problem of burglaries. An issue came up at that meeting which has also been debated in this House and elsewhere. It was agreed by senior gardaí that there is an issue with cash for gold shops which are being exploited by thieves. One of the main targets of the thieves who are breaking into houses is jewellery and gold items. They are not robbing them to wear them but to cash them in. They walk into these cash for gold shops, get cash for the goods and walk out. Simple regulations must be put in place to ensure that this can be stopped. The senior gardaí to whom I referred made three proposals in that regard.

There needs to be photographic evidence of the gold that is brought in and a record to which the police can have access. There also needs to be photographic evidence of the person.

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