Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 67: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he proposes to take to combat the growth of organised crime with particular reference to armed criminal gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27508/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána utilises intelligence-led operations to target organised crime gangs. All available intelligence is fully analysed and used in the strategic deployment of both local and specialised operational Garda units to target particular gangs.

Organised crime is being targeted on a number of fronts, involving uniform and plain-clothes Gardaí overtly and covertly disrupting known criminals in the course of criminal activities.

Specialist units from National Support Services are also assisting in these operations and deal with the different aspects of this type of criminal activity.

In November 2005, the Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was set up to combat the growth of organised crime and, in particular, armed criminal gangs. This Unit has been expanded and now comprises 70 members working full time in proactively targeting the various criminal groups in operation throughout the country.

The Unit will continue to work closely with other specialist units, including the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Special Detective Unit/Emergency Response Unit, in targeting those suspected of involvement in organised criminal activity.

Operation 'Anvil' commenced in the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in 2005 and was expanded regionally during 2006. 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, static checkpoints, by uniform mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain-clothes patrols, in conjunction with other covert operations.

The National Bureau of Criminal Investigation is also closely involved in Operation 'Anvil', particularly within the DMR. This operation continues to successfully target criminal gangs involved in gun crime.

In addition, all Garda operations are also reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure their effectiveness.

Furthermore, the Criminal Assets Bureau is being actively utilised to identify and target assets accumulated by criminals, in order to seize such assets and to deprive the criminals of the profits of their criminal activity.

The Garda National Drugs Unit liaises closely with the Criminal Assets Bureau to target those criminals and criminal groupings believed to be deriving profits and assets from drug-related criminal activity.

This integrated approach adopts best practice in implementing a co-ordinated use of Garda resources and using available criminal legislation to its fullest extent.

Events over recent days provide further evidence that the range of measures being taken by An Garda Siochána continues to achieve significant successes being made against such groups.

For its part, the Government is determined that all of this work is strongly underpinned by continuing to provide An Garda Siochána with all the necessary resources it requires and by ensuring that our legislative package remains effective in dealing with those involved in such forms of criminal activity.

Finally, I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the measures and resources for tackling organised crime under review and I repeat the assurance that I gave to the House recently during the lengthy debate on crime that it is my intention to continue to prioritise areas such as gun crime, organised crime and drugs.