James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for bringing this very important issue of knife crime to the Dáil today. I share the concerns of Deputies across the House relating to knife crime. We are all familiar with the problems that have emerged in neighbouring jurisdictions in this regard and the Government is determined to ensure similar problems do not develop here in Ireland. Although the problem is not of a similar scale here, any stabbing incident can cause irreparable physical harm and have potentially tragic consequences. That is why a comprehensive and robust legal framework is in place with respect to knife crime, including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned.

Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the maximum penalty for a conviction for possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority was increased from one to five years. An Garda Síochána also has an extended power of search without warrant for knives and offensive weapons. I am advised a substantial number of convictions have been secured in the courts over the past number of years for possession of a knife or other similar article.

As one might expect, statistics on seizures of knives by gardaí from 2005 to 2019 indicate this is an issue primarily among younger people, with 44% of seizures relating to individuals from the ages of 12 to 23 and 65% to individuals under the age of 30. An Garda Síochána is currently operating a reduction strategy for 2019 to 2021, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public, including use of knives. This strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early investigation and proactive high-visibility approach. It places particular emphasis on prevention, education and awareness. The strategy promotes early prosecution of offenders where feasible and operationally appropriate. An Garda Síochána also addresses knife crime through education and engagement with community initiatives. At an operational level, gardaí proactively target public disorder and antisocial behaviour, including knife-related crime, through the strategic deployment of Garda resources, and areas identified as public order hotspots by local Garda management are the subject of additional foot and mobile patrols.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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So far this year reports of assault have decreased against the same period last year, due in part to the increased restrictions of movements due to Covid-19. There has been a reduction in reported crimes against persons in the first two quarters of this year versus last year and according to the Central Statistics Office, in the first quarter the "assault causing harm" category fell 23.9% and in the second quarter it fell 16.9% when compared with the same periods in the previous year.

Of all knife crime, 16% is perpetrated by people between the ages of 12 and 17, whereas 28% is perpetrated by people between the ages of 18 and 23 and 21% is perpetrated by people between the ages of 24 and 29. This is very much an issue arising with younger people and it will be addressed with the new justice strategy to be published before the end of the year. I do not have the specific statistics for Cork to hand but I will endeavour to get them for the Deputy.

The matter of sentencing is always kept under review by the Department. If the view is taken that the process needs to be changed, that will be done.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter. I know he has genuine concerns, particularly relating to his own area of Cork. The Garda has a proactive approach to these kinds of concerns when hotspots develop so gardaí can intervene very early to address the matter at an early stage. The youth justice strategy that will be published towards the end of this year will also be important in providing full wrap-around interventions where these concerns arise. We will also be establishing an antisocial behaviour forum so we can have a full suite of interventions for these issues.

The Deputy mentioned the possibility of an amnesty to tackle knife crime. I completely sympathise with the objective of conducting an amnesty in order to do something constructive in the face of every tragic incident involving the use of knives or similar items. However, the consistent expert advice from An Garda Síochána is that such an amnesty is unlike to lead to any significant benefit. It is well understood that in many cases, ordinary household kitchen knives are used for such crimes. It has not been the experience that knives of this type are handed in during an amnesty. However, I am assured by Garda authorities that tackling knife crime remains a top priority for the organisation. Gardaí tackle this by way of a rigorous enforcement policy, education and an awareness-raising programme, and they have an extended power of search without warrant relating to knives and offensive weapons. I thank the Deputy again for raising this important matter.