asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, to increase the numbers of personnel in the vice squad and the number of female staff approximately.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vice Squad Personnel.
5.
The term "vice squad" is usually, though not officially, used to refer to a Garda unit dealing primarily and on a full-time basis with problems relating to prostitution and I assume that the question is intended to be interpreted accordingly.
The only part of the State in which such a unit is in operation is the Dublin Metropolitan Area, although of course all members of the force pay attention, as required, to those problems. The strength of the unit in Dublin is determined by the Garda authorities and it is temporarily augmented at intervals, as and when the need arises. I am informed by the Garda authorities that they do not propose at present to effect any increase in the permanent strength. There are no ban-ghardaí assigned full-time to the unit, but ban-ghardaí do of course assist the unit from time to time.
In view of the reported growth of the form of crime with which this squad would normally be dealing and of the fact that it is a problem on which ban-ghardaí could be employed usefully full-time, has the Minister any proposals to recommend to the Garda Commissioner or to bring to his attention the need for any changes, particularly with regard to an increase in staff or any increase in the number of ban-ghardaí who may be employed?
That is the original question.
The Garda authorities are satisfied that the full-time membership of the squad at present is sufficient at the level at which it is. I refer the Deputy to the part of my answer where I stated that at times, when it is thought necessary by the Garda authorities to augment the full-time squad, then they do so. If banghardaí are required they too are considered by the commissioner.
Would the Minister consider it unusual that a squad dealing almost exclusively with women apparently is staffed full-time exclusively by men?
The Deputy should not assume that only the full-time membership of the squad are involved in dealing with this problem. That is not so.
Why is the only vice squad situated in Dublin? In the opinion of the authorities does the problem not exist in other large urban centres?
The Deputy is quite right in saying that this problem is not alone in Dublin and that the squad are centred in Dublin only, but it is a normal part in ordinary police duty or police training to deal with this problem wherever it might arise.
If all police are trained in this duty and there is no special training for performing this duty, why have a vice squad at all?
Because the problem in Dublin, due to the size of the population, is more serious than in any other part of the country. The Garda authorities believe that a small number of persons such as the personnel forming the vice squad are necessary to deal with the problem where it is greatest. The Garda authorities are satisfied that they can deal with the problem in other centres wherever it might arise in the course of ordinary police duty.
Do the vice squad deal exclusively with prostitution or are there other aspects of their work?
The squad we are talking about deals primarily with prostitution.