Written answers

Tuesday, 7 November 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Garda Operations

8:00 pm

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of weapons seized to date in relation to Operation Anvil; the number of arrests made; the reason no information is available regarding the number of charges preferred, arising to date from the operation; the length of time the operation is intended to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36264/06]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drugs, guns or other weapon searches that have taken place affecting organised criminal gangs in the past 12 months; the number of seizures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36591/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 216 together.

Operation Anvil commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on 17 May, 2005. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain clothes patrols. The Operation remains in place and is on-going in the DMR.

Operation Anvil was also extended nationwide during 2006 and consists of a series of special operations, proposed by each Regional Assistant Commissioner, which are designed to focus on areas where there is a high incidence of crime.

The Operation outside the DMR is significantly different from that in the DMR, in that initiatives have a short time-focus and are designed to address the particular needs of specific areas. A number of operations have been completed, while further operations are on-going. The methodologies utilised in doing this vary from area to area and from time to time, commensurate with the assessed need. For these reasons there is no comparable system in place for the systematic collation of statistical data in these Garda Regions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the information requested in respect of the number of persons charged is not readily available as some of the incidents resulting in arrest are the subject of ongoing investigation. The information could only be obtained by the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to examine each individual incident and resultant arrest or arrests.

Operation Anvil has proved to be very successful in disrupting the criminal activities of a number of key criminal gangs. It has resulted in a number of high-profile arrests and the acquisition of intelligence on the movements of criminals. Notable improvements have been achieved in recorded crime in the target crime areas under the operation.

In addition to the introduction of Operation Anvil, the Commissioner in November 2005 augmented the Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation with an additional 55 Garda members to address the problem of criminal gang activity. Enforcement by the Unit has resulted in further firearms being seized and a number of persons arrested, thereby disrupting their criminal activities.

Operation Anvil will continue to be funded to the extent and as long as the Commissioner considers that it is necessary to do so and it is fulfilling its objectives. The tables show the successes of Operation Anvil up to 31 October 2006.

Operation Anvil in the Dublin Metropolitan Region up to 31 October 2006
Arrests
Murder53
Burglary1,640
Robbery offences769
Serious assaults752
Theft from shops*345
Theft from MPV*46
Theft other*75
Total Arrests3,680
Searches
Drugs18,137
Thefts1,771
Firearms1,251
Total Searches21,159
Seizures
Firearms536
Section 41 (Road Traffic Act)7,350
Total Seizures7,886
Number of Checkpoints Established40,434
Value of property recoveredâ'¬13,527,747
*Figures commenced from 25 September 2006.
Operation Anvil outside the Dublin Metropolitan Region up to 31 October 2006
Arrests2,595
Firearms seized238

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