Jim O'Keeffe
Question:141 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice whether there has been an increase in crime in Cork west in 1991.
Written Answers. - County Cork Area Crime Statistics..
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the indications are that there has been an increase in the level of indictable crime recorded in the Cork west Garda division so far this year by comparison with the same period in 1990. They have also informed me that there has been a corresponding increase in the number of detections.
The Garda authorities have informed me that a strategy to deal with the problems in the area has been drawn up by the divisional officer. The House will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to go into details on precise Garda measures as to do so could be counterproductive. However, I can say that the strategy includes the frequent use of checkpoints at various locations at unpredictable intervals, the surveillance of suspects, the use of patrols and the targeting of Garda resources to meet specific needs in certain areas. The number of gardaí assigned to the Cork west division has been increased this year by eight and the rural policing scheme has been introduced into one district in the division.
The Garda authorities have informed me that they have intensified their efforts to encourage the public to take crime-prevention measures and are actively involved in the promotion of the neighbourhood watch and community alert programmes in the area. There are now 38 community alert and three neighbourhood watch schemes operating successfully in the division and further schemes are in the process of being set up.
I am assured by the Garda authorities that all possible steps are being taken to deal with the problem. The situation in the division is being monitored very carefully and the strategy adopted is being kept under constant review.