Gay Mitchell
Question:55 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice when the strategic planning unit, to monitor and assess the causes of crime, will be established.
Written Answers. - Crime Prevention Strategy.
The Programme for a Partnership Government commits the Government to introduce a radical set of measures and provide the resources to fight crime, including white-collar crime, and vandalism. One of the specific measures to be taken is the establishment of a strategic planning unit to monitor and assess the causes of crime and the strategies to be adopted to deal with them. In my speech to the House on Tuesday I stated that I am preparing a co-ordinated plan of action which will embrace all elements in relation to the gardaí, prison service and urban crime.
A Garda research unit which will undertake practical research projects of relevance to a modern police force has been established. The unit will also examine important areas such as analysis of current crime trends and patterns in Irish society. I hope that the work of the unit will reveal valuable data on the causes of crime in our community, and provide a basis for intervention strategies by gardaí and other State agencies to deal with the causes of crime. The head of research will be a civilian and will be appointed shortly.
The corporate strategy plan, presented by the Garda Commissioner earlier this year, proposes a general strategy plan for the service for the period 1993-1997 to fight crime in present day conditions.