Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Jun 1995

Vol. 454 No. 2

Written Answers. - Drug-Related Crime Statistics.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

25 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons convicted of drug-related offences serving time in each of the country's prisons for the most recent year for which figures are available; if she will express that figure as a proportion of the total prison population in each instance; the proposals, if any, she has to reduce the incidence of drug-related crime through the expansion of community drugs teams and community policing initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10361/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Statistics are not compiled in a manner which would make it possible to distinguish those crimes which are drug-related, in the widest interpretation of the term, from those which are not. It would not always be possible for invesigating gardaí to say for certain whether a particular crime was drug-related.

Information which is available shows that of the 5,857 persons committed to custody on conviction in 1992 (the latest year for which statistics are available), 154 (2.6 per cent) were sentenced in respect of the sale/supply of drugs; possession, production, cultivation, import, export of drugs or forging/altering prescriptions or having same. Where a person is committed under sentence for more than one offence, only the principal offence is recorded for statistical purposes. If, therefore, there was a drug offence but it was not the principal offence it would not be included in these figures.

I should add, of course, that offenders who commit offences not related to drugs but for the purpose of feeding a drug habit (e.g. larceny, trespass, forgery etc.) would not be included in these statistics.

As regards reducing the incidence of drug related crime my Department has prepared a report on important aspects of law enforcement in relation to the drugs problem. I will bring proposals to Government based on the report as soon as possible. These proposals will address the questions of a cohesive and co-ordinated response to the drug trafficking problem by the existing law enforcement agencies, the need for legislative changes to assist the law enforcement response and the contribution in the Health and Education areas in developing strategies to reduce demand for drugs. These proposals will represent the most comprehensive set of measures ever to be put in place to tackle the drugs problem.

With regard to community policy initiatives, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that they have drawn up a comprehensive community based drugs awareness programme and arrangements are well advanced towards its implementation throughout the country. The programme will be operated by community gardaí and juvenile liaison officers and will involve visits to schools as well as attending meetings of community-based groups and the business community. This programme will include the use of video and audio displays. Extra training will be provided for those gardaí involved in the programme.

The programme has been carefully devised with the objective of advising young people of the dangers of drugs and encouraging them to resist the pressures to take drugs.

The Deputy may also be aware of the mobile drug prevention unit which was launched in October 1994. This has been used by the gardaí in the course of visits to various centres and communities, including schools, with the objective of raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and imparting advice and assistance where necessary.