Vol. 454 No. 2
24 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish a special Garda task force to protect newsagents and shopkeepers from thugs and villains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10393/95]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no plans to establish a special task force along the lines suggested by the Deputy in the question and I must be guided by them and their professional judgment in this matter.
I recently met with RGDATA to discuss the findings of their report. Of course, I am concerned at the level and nature of crime being perpetrated against shopkeepers and their staff. Following this meeting, I forwarded a copy of the RGDATA report to the Garda Commissioner for his views, particularly in relation to the action proposed at paragraph 6 of the report and these views are awaited. In the meantime, I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are aware of this situation and are targeting areas of high incidence of this type of crime. I am also informed by the Garda authorities that Business Watch was established in February 1994 under the auspices of the Crime Prevention Unit at the Dublin Metropolitan Headquarters in Harcourt Square. It operates in conjunction with the chambers of commerce who encourage their members to participate in it. The scheme is operated on the lines of the neighbourhood watch scheme and plans are devised through mutual co-operation to reduce the opportunity for criminals and to provide safety to shopkeepers and security for their property.
