Bernard J. Durkan
Question:11 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has to improve and expand the junior liaison service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Junior Liaison Officer Scheme.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:44 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, the Government has to deal with the continuing problem of juvenile crime in view of the figures contained in the report of the Garda Commissioner for 1991, which showed that more than half of all those convicted for offences during 1991 were under 21 years of age; if, in particular, she has any plans for the expansion of the juvenile liaison officer scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:71 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has for the improvement of the junior liaison service as it applies to County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Question Nos. 11, 44 and 71 together.
I am of course concerned about the level of crime as reported in the Commissioner's Report on Crime for 1991 and particularly juvenile crime. Since I took office as Minister for Justice I have met with the Garda Commissioner and his senior officers on several occasions to discuss various aspects of the crime problem, including juvenile crime, and I intend to have ongoing consultations with the Commissioner on the ways and means of addressing the problem of crime in all its aspects.
A major review of the Garda juvenile liaison officer scheme was undertaken between 1987 and 1990 and, as a result, a number of changes in the scheme were implemented. A Garda national juvenile office was established in July 1991 and its responsibilities include the overall operation and monitoring of the Garda juvenile diversion programme (JLO scheme) throughout the country.
The benefits of a caution under the programme were extended to juveniles up to the age of 18 years, an increase of one year. Two levels of cautions were introduced, depending on the circumstances of the crime and of the juvenile and family. The area of supervision following caution, which is a vital element of the programme, was examined and now contains two levels of supervision, regular or intensive, depending on the likehood of the juveniles re-offending.
A system of supervision which meets the needs of each juvenile and the rostering of juvenile liaison officers for night and weekend work to ensure better contact with parents and those involved in the scheme are now in place.
Administration and operational procedures were streamlined and every juvenile, under 18 years of age, made amenable for any crime or offence throughout the country is referred to the national juvenile office.
For the 12 months ending 31 December 1992, a total of 11,450 referrals were made. Of those finalised to date, in excess of 61 per cent have been dealt with under the provisions of the programme. There are currently 80 full-time operational Garda juvenile liaison officers. The programme is subject to constant review in order to improve the service provided. The programme has shown a consistent success rate of 89 per cent since its inception in 1963 to date.
In relation to Kildare, the Carlow/ Kildare Division is serviced by two juvenile liaison officers, one in Carlow Town dealing with the Carlow area and one at Newbridge dealing with the County Kildare area. During 1992, the number of referrals dealt with by these juvenile liaison officers was 161 in Carlow and 210 in Newbridge.
Specifically in relation to juvenile crime a number of measures have already been taken by the Garda authorities to build closer links between gardaí and young people. These include the following:
Emphasis is being placed during training on gardaí involving themselves in social and sporting organisations at community level.
A system of community policing has been introduced where community gardaí have a special role in working with young people. There are now community gardaí serving in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.
The Garda schools project has been established to help young people to develop positive attitudes towards the gardaí and their local environment. The young people involved also discuss the grave risks to them of alcohol and drug abuse. I understand from the Garda authorities that they have made plans to extend the project to all schools throughout the country.
The gardaí are involved in a number of community-based projects aimed at helping young people to steer clear of crime. These include the GRAFT project in Ronanstown, the KEY project in Killinarden, the WHAD project in Cherry Orchard and the Outreach programme in Limerick. My Department provides funding towards the cost of these projects.
Also in my Department a considerable amount of work has gone into the preparation of a new juvenile justice Bill. This Bill, which will repeal the 1908 Children Act, will be substantial legislation covering all areas of the juvenile justice system.
Finally, in relation to the 1991 crime report, while there was an overall increase over 1990, the level of juvenile crime actually fell. I might add that the preliminary indications for 1992 are that the overall level of crime in the country is stabilising.
Will the Minister accept that the juvenile liaison service is grossly overworked, understaffed and underdeveloped? Will she also accept, in relation to Question 71, that two liaison officers to cover an area with the population of Kildare and Carlow is unrealistic in terms of dealing with the possible expansion in the crime rate? Will the Minister accept that while the reported juvenile crime rate might have diminished the actual rate is far higher? Many crimes are not reported because of public frustration.
I would not accept that the juvenile liaison officers scheme is understaffed. It is probably under pressure, like every avenue of resources within the Garda Síochána and other areas of Government responsibility. Juvenile liaison officers have a big workload with which to deal and they do so effectively and efficiently as possible. They have done tremendous work with communities throughout the country. Most of us are familiar with the projects in operation in Dublin, particularly in South-west Dublin. Juvenile liaison officers need the support of not just the Department of Justice and the Garda generally. They receive the backing in the various stations and divisional headquarters and that is important. They need the support of teachers and, in particular, parents. That is something I would like to address in the juvenile justice Bill. There is a strong onus of responsibility on parents in this regard and it is something all of us need to address. By getting involved in schools, in community activities and sporting organisations the gardaí, particularly the younger gardaí coming out of the training school in Templemore, get to know young people and may steer them away from crime. That is something we would all like to encourage.
The Minister stated that there has been an increase in the number of juvenile liaison officers. However, will she accept that as more than half of those convicted are under 21 years, and that it costs approximately £600 per week to keep a young person in detention, 80 full-time juvenile liaison officers out of a total Garda force of more than 10,000 is inadequate. That number does not take into consideration the nature of their work and their exhausting schedule of attending football matches and other community events which the Minister outlined in her contribution.
We should not refer to the 80 juvenile liaison officers as if in some way they are a specialised force. Each of those officers is backed up by the other members of the Garda Síochána who also work in the community. While juvenile liaison officers will have a particular responsibility, they will always have the support of their colleagues in the force and from the station within which they operate.
The Minister stated that the juvenile liaison officer service is under pressure but not understaffed. Will the Minister explain what that means as I understand from members of the force that they are grossly understaffed? Will the Minister agree that 80 such officers is totally inadequate for the country given that almost 40 per cent of all crime is committed by juveniles? Will the Minister agree that redeploying resources to this area would be money well spent as it costs £65,000 to keep one person in Trinity House, for example, for one year?
The 80 juvenile officers must be doing a significant amount of work given that juvenile crime has decreased according to the latest available crime figures. All of us would like to see more than 80 officers recruited and I will raise that with the Garda Commissioner. I have raised with him the way in which existing resources are allocated and the need for community, parental and teacher support. They need the support of the voluntary groups in the areas in which they operate. Any member of the Garda Síochána can only do so much. Gardaí in intelligence gathering have to depend on the support and co-operation of the public. I know Deputy Harney supports that very strongly. It is a matter I can raise with the Garda Commissioner.