Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of weapons seized to date and the number of arrests made in relation to Operation Anvil; 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. [41926/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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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 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 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.

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.

The information requested in respect of the number of persons charged is not readily available as some of the incidents resulting in arrests are subject of ongoing investigations and this information could only be provided by a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources necessitating the examination of each individual incident and resultant arrest.

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.