Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of knife assaults recorded in each of the Dublin Garda divisions to date in 2022 [60504/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may appreciate, assault is not one crime but covers a broad range of offences up to and including murder. I have been advised by An Garda Síochána that consequently details on the number of knife assaults are not collated on the PULSE system, as the range of possible incidents is too broad. 

The Deputy may be aware that I established and am pleased to chair the Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour. The Forum has established two sub-groups, with the possibility of establishing additional sub-groups to examine other issues. The two sub-groups have looked at the misuse of scramblers and knife crime.

The knife crime sub-group has examined existing data and possible approaches to community responses as well as the legislative position. I have been briefed on the work of the sub-group and am considering what further measures might be progressed. My Department remains in contact with An Garda Síochána and the Probation Service in this regard.

It is important to note, based on international evidence, that there are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime and it is clear that longer term, evidence-based strategies are needed. Knife crime cannot be addressed in isolation but as part of the strategic responses to address anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.

My Department's overriding concern is that we pursue the actions which have the best chance of being effective and making a real difference. Therefore, we have to balance the strong impulse to react based on our shared outrage at violent crimes with a careful consideration of the best available evidence on what is most likely to yield real improvements.

I am advised that An Garda Síochána have used data from the HSE, together with their own internal crime data to perform an analysis of knife crime which was published to the Garda website.

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/analysis-of-knife-related-crime-data-february-2021.pdf.

I am further advised that it is the intention to update this report in coming months with the latest data.