Seanad debates

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

3:55 pm

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise this issue, which was listed as "The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to tackle rural crime". I do not expect him to go out to defuse riots like Churchill did when he was Home Secretary. It would be an interesting proposition but it is not necessary. There is no question rural crime has reached epidemic levels. Driving around the rural parts of my constituency, one would be under the impression they are wealthy because all the properties have electric gates. This phenomenon is particularly concentrated in parishes into which known criminals have moved. When politicians are canvassing or farm salesmen or others going about their normal business, they encounter electric gates which have been put in place out of fear. The fear of crime in rural areas has not been drummed up falsely; it is based on statistics. According to the annualised totals in the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report, burglaries increased by 10% in the year to the end of the second quarter. In the Garda eastern region, they have increased by 24%, which is a frightening statistic, and I am not convinced every burglary is being reported to the Garda because, in some cases, people feel nothing will happen. I encourage people to make sure they report these crimes not only for insurance purposes, but to make sure the statistics are right.

I know of many cases. An elderly woman living alone was rescued by my uncle who heard her screams 300 metres down a rural road. Four months later, a family is still traumatised after people dressed up as gardaí entered their house, burgled it and threatened them. Theft of cars and money is widespread and it is being facilitated by our good road network. People are travelling from Dublin to County Meath in the Garda eastern region to commit burglaries before returning home. The figures bear that out with a 24% increase in the number of burglaries in the past year.

Fear has increased following the decision of the Minister for Justice and Equality to close more Garda stations in rural areas. He closed some last year and there is speculation about others that will be closed. The speculation in newspapers is leading to more fear among the good citizens of this country that not only might they be burgled, but there will not be a Garda presence to protect them. People see Garda stations in their areas as a sign of help and it is no coincidence in my area that some of the worst burglaries have been committed in parishes that are not adjacent to stations. Stamullen is near the motorway but there is no Garda station for miles and the area is looked on as easy pickings. The Garda in conjunction with the Minister for Justice and Equality must come up with a radical strategy to address this.

I pay tribute to the communities throughout Ireland that are taking steps themselves to deal with this problem. In my area, Mr. Ronan Murtagh and the Drumconrath community alert group pioneered text alert schemes which are becoming more widespread in the State. That is an example of a community taking the initiative. When the Stamullen community alert scheme was set up, it had a noticeable impact on the crime figures. Communities need more help from the State and the Garda because when burglaries increase by 24% in the Dublin commuter belt, which comprises the bulk of the Garda eastern region, people have reason to be frightened and have reason to expect a comprehensive response from the Government.

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who unfortunately cannot be present due to other business. While the incidence of crime is generally lower in rural than in urban areas, I assure the House that the Minister is conscious of the deep distress burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in rural areas and the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. The Minster also shares the widespread outrage at incidents of aggravated burglary in rural areas and is confident that gardaí are doing everything in their power to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. The latest official crime statistics from the CSO show that most types of crime are falling and this reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána. In particular, crimes against the person, including murder, are down by 8%, as are assault and related offences, which are down by 9.7%. Public order and damage to property offences are also down by 13.1% and 10.8%, respectively.

Both the Minister and the Garda Commissioner remain concerned about the incidence of burglary and, therefore, welcome the progress being made as part of Operation Fiacla, which is running for 12 months initially, with effect from February 2012. The operation is the subject of regular monitoring and review by senior Garda management and is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country to disrupt their activities and bring them before the courts. Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda region to target suspect offenders. As of 19 October, 2,493 persons had been arrested and 1,404 persons had been charged as part of the operation, reflecting the substantial efforts being made to tackle this problem by the Garda. These results show that the Garda Commissioner is effectively deploying the substantial resources available to him in a targeted approach to confront those engaged in this form of criminality.

In addition to the concerted law enforcement efforts being pursued by An Garda Síochána, crime prevention is a key strategy in tackling crime in rural as well as all other areas. The Garda national crime prevention unit and crime prevention officers at divisional level provide advice, information and support to organisations, businesses and individuals aimed at reducing burglary and property crime. Furthermore, the Garda national model of community policing plays a key part in responding to crime by taking into account and responding to local conditions and needs.

Under this model there will be a community policing team in each district, headed up by a sergeant. Clear objectives will be set, such as high visibility in the community, ease of contact by members of the public, and enhanced support for crime prevention strategies. In this regard the Garda Síochána continues to work closely with communities to enhance community safety in a wide range of local fora, including through partnership programmes such as community alert and neighbourhood watch, as well as more formal structures such as joint policing committees.

While the Minister fully understands the concern that communities may have about Garda station closures, he is convinced that in providing a modern, effective police force, the emphasis should not be on bricks and mortar. Until the station closures earlier this year, the State had a Garda station network that was mostly unchanged since 1922 and that took no account of modern transport, communication and policing methods. It is the Government's intention to ensure front-line services are maintained at the highest level possible through the most efficient use of resources. The Commissioner has the Minister's full support in this regard and has every confidence that he and everyone in the Garda Síochána will continue to deliver an effective police service in rural as in all other areas.

4:05 pm

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for her response. I pay tribute to the Garda Síochána, which is working hard in local communities. I put particular emphasis on community alert, neighbourhood watch and the joint policing committees. More needs to be done in the teeth of Operation Fiacla. Statistics show that burglary, in particular, is increasing. I acknowledge that other crimes, such as murders - down by 8% - and assault, have decreased but burglaries affect most families who are victims of crime. Burglaries account for the largest number in the statistics. In the eastern region, in the 12 months to the end of the second quarter this year, there were 5,867 burglaries and only four homicides. When we talk about the reduction in homicide, it is not really relevant to the average person. Every murder is terrible and has a terrible impact on communities and families but burglaries are more likely to affect people in their day-to-day lives. I want to put the pressure on to continue the good work of the Garda Síochána. The Government needs to give more resources to the Garda Síochána and give a stronger focus on rural crime, particularly burglaries.

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I will convey the sentiments of the Senator to the Minister. We are all agreed that ensuring people feel secure in their community is very important. We do not want everyone migrating to large population bases just because they do not feel secure in their own community.