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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 6

Written Answers. - Street Violence.

David Stanton

Question:

109 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is concerned with regard to the number of random violent attacks that are occurring on our streets at night; the figures for same; the measures he plans to introduce to limit or eliminate these attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15093/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

209 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of reported incidents of assault in the course of street violence; if charges have been preferred in all such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15314/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

211 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which the zero tolerance policy has impacted on situations of street violence; if special attention has or can be given to potential flashpoints in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15321/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

212 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has given any specific direction to the Garda Síochána with a view to combating street violence with particular reference to paying special attention to locations or situations which have in the past been associated with such incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

222 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of incidents of street violence reported in County Kildare in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15333/01]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 109, 209, 211, 212 and 222 together.

The term "street violence" does not readily correspond to any category of crime used by the Garda Síochána in the compilation of its annual reports. However, under a number of sections of relevant Acts, between October 2000 and March 2001, the number of detected offences roughly corresponding to aspects of street violence amounted to 38,896. These include more than 16,000 offences of intoxication in a public place.
The main legislative provisions relevant to street violence are contained in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 and the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990. These statutory responses are being kept under continual review by my Department.
"Operation Oíche" has been deployed in cities and large towns since October 2000. I understand from the Garda authorities that, as part of this operation, each divisional officer compiled an operational plan which incorporated all initiatives and operations to combat public order problems and illicit drug use. I am further informed that additional plans to focus on public intoxication and under-age drinking were also developed.
The Garda authorities consider the operation to have been highly successful to date, and I understand it has received favourable comment from both the general public and the business community. Since its introduction, there has been a more visible Garda presence on the streets, particularly at the closing times of licensed premises and nightclubs. In this regard, the Garda Síochána continues to visit licensed premises to impress an even greater awareness of their responsibilities on the licensees. I am further informed that, in Dublin, the new corporation by-laws prohibiting the consumption of intoxicating liquor on public streets have proven very effective.
In relation to offences committed by juveniles, I am confident the Children Bill, 1999 which is currently before the Oireachtas, will have a significant effect on public order offences committed by young people. The Bill contains specific proposals on the responsibilities of parents. For example, parents may be obliged to take measures to remedy whatever it is that has caused them to lose control over their children. On a related note, I have also overseen a dramatic increase in the number of Garda youth diversion projects, from 12 in 1997 to 51 at present.
Moreover, as the House may be aware, the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2000, significantly strengthened the provisions against the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor to underage persons. To complement this, the age card scheme, which I launched last year, allows any person who has attained 18 years of age to apply for an age card at his or her local Garda station in order to confirm that they have attained the legal age for the purchase of intoxicating liquor.
I can also inform the House that the national crime council is undertaking a major research project in relation to public order offences, which should significantly enhance the information available to us about the nature and patterning of this problem. In addition, the Garda Commissioner has brought together people to provide expert advice on the particular factors which appear to be at work in the manifest tendency towards serious violence in certain instances amongst young people.
I am satisfied that the responses of my Department and the Garda Síochána to the issue are comprehensive and appropriate, and I am satisfied that they are and will continue to produce positive results. Statistics for previous years relating to the range of offences which may constitute ‘street violence' can be found in the annual reports of An Garda Síochána, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The most recent annual report details crime statistics in relation to 1999.
Question No. 110 answered with Question No. 67.
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