Written answers

Wednesday, 1 July 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Anti-Social Behaviour

11:00 pm

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action taken to date or proposed to stamp out anti-social behaviour throughout County Clare, with particular reference to the number of people on the housing lists seeking house transfers as a result of incidents of anti-social behaviour; the number of prosecutions in the Clare Garda Division for 2008 and to date in 2009 for anti-social behaviour; the number of reported incidents in respect of which no prosecutions took place for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26652/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Policing Plan for 2009, which reflects the priorities set for the Force by me as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, contains a series of measures aimed at reducing the impact of crime and criminal behaviour. One of the strategic goals identified in the Plan is to reduce significantly the incidence of public disorder and anti-social behaviour in communities.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that public order hot-spots in the Clare Division have been identified and Garda personnel are deployed on specific initiatives which concentrate on the enforcement of legislation relating to anti-social behaviour. A policing initiative, targeting public disorder, minor assaults and other anti-social type behaviour, has been put in place in Ennis, with particular emphasis on weekends. This initiative has been enhanced by the recent introduction of a Garda CCTV system in the town centre. A community based CCTV system has also recently become operational in Kilrush.

There are a range of crime prevention initiatives in operation in Clare Garda Division. These include two Garda Youth Diversion Projects, operating in Ennis and Kilrush, which are funded by the Irish Youth Justice Service. Each project is managed by a multi-agency and community based committee, which is responsible for the strategic direction of the project.

There are 18 Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in operation in the Division, with each scheme a partnership between An Garda Síochána and the public. There are also 27 Community Alert groups in the Division. The Community Alert Programme, which receives funding from my Department, is a response to crime in rural areas and is a partnership between Muintir na Tíre and An Garda Síochána. In addition, three Business Watch Schemes are in operation in the Division which create an axis of communication and awareness of crime prevention within the business community and thereby provide a framework within which the business community can make a significant contribution to the prevention and reduction of crime and anti-social behaviour.

A full-time Crime Prevention Officer (CPO) is based in Ennis Garda District, with responsibility for the Division. The CPO liaises with the Garda National Crime Prevention Office and provides advice and support to members of the public and the business community on technical crime prevention issues. The CPO has also been trained as a Crime Prevention Design Advisor, enabling An Garda Síochána to make recommendations to communities and local authorities on design in the built environment in areas which may be prone to anti-social behaviour.

I am assured that local Garda management are committed to the prevention and detection of anti-social behaviour. Incidents of public disorder and anti-social behaviour reported to the Garda authorities are the subject of investigation and are dealt with appropriately, including by juvenile or adult caution, fixed charge notices or initiating criminal proceedings. Any persons found engaging in such behaviour will continue to be dealt with appropriately in accordance with the law.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him. The management of local authority housing, including transfers of existing tenants, is a matter for the local authority concerned.

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