asked the Minister for Justice if he will give details of the number of residential groupings who have approached the Garda with a view to forming neighbourhood watch schemes in Dublin at present, the number of such schemes in operation in Dublin at present; if he is in a position to confirm a reduction in urban crime in areas where such groups operate; and, if so, if he will give details.
Written Answers. - Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.
157.
Limerick East): I am informed by the Garda authorities that over one thousand inquiries have been received about Neighbourhood Watch during the present publicity campaign. Approximately 80 per cent of these were from the Dublin area. It is not clear at this stage precisely how many of these were from residential groupings. This will only become clear when inquiries progress to the point where positive moves are made to establish Neighbourhood Watch schemes. To date there are 81 schemes in operation in Dublin.
To establish a positive link between a rise or fall in crime and a particular causative factor is extremely difficult particularly over a short period of time. The Garda authorities inform me that it has not been possible, with their limited experience of Neighbourhood Watch to isolate and accurately identify the particular contribution which the scheme is making to movements in crime figures. They say in fact that an initial effect of the introduction of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can be to produce an increase in recorded crime because of an increased public awareness and willingness to report crime. Garda experience, however, of the limited number of schemes which have been in operation for some time is that they have had positive effects in terms of crime detection and prevention and have promoted better Garda — community co-operation.