asked the Minister for Justice the number of undetected larcenies and house-breakings in Limerick city over the last six months; and if he will now review the advantages of placing gardaí on patrol beat as against the use of the squad car.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Larcenies.
43.
The latest period for which these crime statistics are available is up to 20th September last and, as the statistics have already been compiled on the usual annual basis, I am not in a position to give a six month figure. The number of undetected larcenies and housebreakings in Limerick for the entire year ended 30th September last was 140. As this represents a detection rate of 79 per cent, which is high for an urban area the size of Limerick, I cannot accept the implication in the question that the present system is defective.
The question of the relative merits of the garda on the beat, as against the use of the patrol car, in any particular area is, as I pointed out to the Deputy in reply to a question on 25th November last, a matter primarily for the judgment of professional policemen. I said also on that occasion, and repeat now, that I accept the commissioner's advice that the police needs of Limerick city as a whole are best served for the time being by the methods now in operation.
In Limerick, if you break into a house you have a four to one chance of getting away with it.
In Dublin it is three to one.
It is a good deal worse.