Written Answers. - Crime Levels.
Michael Bell
Question:
18
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the steps being taken to tackle the situation disclosed in the report on crime figures for 2000, which recorded an increase of almost 130% in the level of violent assaults; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6059/02]
Brendan Howlin
Question:
52
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the steps being taken to tackle the situation disclosed in the report on crime figures for 2000, which recorded an increase of almost 130% in the level of violent assaults; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6056/02]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
146
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the steps he has taken to reassure the general public in the wake of the ongoing and increasing levels of violent crimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6216/02]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
147
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he proposes changes in policing practice to address the increased levels of violent crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[6217/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 52, 146 and 147 together.
First I will address the issue of the crime statistics for the year 2000. Then I will move on to a consideration of the relevant crime prevention and detection measures currently in place to tackle incidents of assault and other forms of, primarily, street violence.
The overall picture that emerged from the Garda annual report 2000, as published in January last, is very positive. Although precise comparisons with previous years is made somewhat difficult by the introduction of the new PULSE platform, the 2000 report states that "crime categorised as headline crime . . . reflects to a major degree what, in the past, was defined as indictable crime".
In this respect 73,276 headline offences were reported or known to the Garda in the year 2000 compared with 81,274 indictable offences in 1999. On this basis serious crime levels fell in 2000 by 9.8% on the previous year and by 27.3% since 1996. However, I am the first to accept that despite this outstanding performance not all individual types of offence display the same positive, downward trend in the year 2000.
With regard to the category of offence to which the Deputies drew attention, namely assault causing harm, the Garda annual report 2000 states that 1,703 such offences were recorded in that year. This is in comparison to 737 recorded in the previous year. Although the 2000 figure represents a very small proportion of total serious crime – in fact, only about 2.3% – this increase is a matter of concern.
Relying solely on the headline offence category provides a less than complete picture in relation to the overall incidence of assault. It is important to note that 83% of assaults in the year 2000 are recorded as non-headline offences. In 1999 pro ceedings were taken in 8,664 cases of non-indictable assault, excluding assaults on gardaí on duty. The corresponding figure for 2000 was 8,422 which represents a decline of 2.8%.
The combined indictable-non-indictable statistics for assault in 1999 was 10,208 and the headline and non-headline offences in 2000 was 10,933, constituting an overall increase of 7% for all assaults. This demonstrates that the percentage of cases in which there is a more serious level of viciousness has gone from about 7% up to 16%.
This trend towards increased savagery and viciousness – mostly involving young males – is clearly a matter that concerns all of us as parents, citizens and public representatives. As a society we need to get a clearer understanding of the causes of the phenomenon which is, incidentally, not just an Irish phenomenon but part of the current international experience. At present the National Crime Council is carrying out some research on public order generally.
It is not a phenomenon for which factors normally associated with crime levels – such as deprivation – offer a satisfactory explanation. Law enforcement has a crucial role to play in dealing with this problem. However, it cannot be said to be an issue which is capable of being addressed by law and order measures alone. The sad reality is that the young people who become involved in this form of anti-social behaviour come from all backgrounds. For many of them it is a case of having too much money and too little sense.
Within my functional remit I have put in place measures to ameliorate the tendencies of some young people towards violence in public places. A network of 64 Garda youth diversion projects target for their intake young people at risk of or already dabbling in anti-social activities. Moreover, the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2000, and the statutory age card scheme which I introduced seek to reduce the possibility of under age drinking.
The recommendations of the Garda youth policy advisory group report are currently under examination by a cross-functional working group, which will draft an implementation plan to be submitted to the Garda Commissioner for approval.
In terms of the Garda's law enforcement response, a national public order initiative, Operation Oíche, has been in operation since October 2000. The Garda authorities consider Operation Oíche to have been highly successful to date. Since its introduction there has been a more visible Garda presence on the streets, particularly at the closing times of licensed premises and nightclubs.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the increased presence of Garda members on the streets at night to deal with this form of offending has actually resulted in cases being recorded which, heretofore, simply would not have appeared in any statistics. The reason is that the youngsters on both sides of many of these disputes have an equal or almost equal responsibility for what takes place and an equal desire to avoid involving the Garda Síochána. Although I am not claiming that this is a total explanation for the increase in the figures, it is a significant factor.
A further significant measure against violent street crime is Garda CCTV. To date CCTV systems have been installed in: Dublin North Central, that is O'Connell Street and its surrounding areas; Dublin South Central, that is Grafton Street and its surrounding areas; and Tralee, County Kerry.
A CCTV system is currently nearing completion in Cork city and most of the cameras in the system are now fully operational.
In late 2000 I announced that the number of CCTV systems would be further expanded. I have allocated more than €15 million for expenditure in this area for the period 2001 to 2003. Town centre CCTV systems are now planned for Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Galway, Limerick, Athlone and Waterford. The installation of systems in at least a further six areas will be announced in due course.
I do not believe that it is enough to throw resources at problems like that and then sit on one's hands, hoping for the best. I am convinced that further law enforcement measures are needed. I propose to introduce legislation specifically aimed at tackling the problem of street violence. I have recently sought and received Government approval for the drafting – on a priority basis – of a new criminal justice public order enforcement Bill. The purpose of the Bill will be to provide the Garda with additional powers to tackle anti-social behaviour. It will target drunk and unruly elements who congregate late at night outside or in the vicinity of licensed and other premises, such as fast food outlets, and who by their aggressive and intimidating behaviour threaten the peace and well-being of law abiding citizens.
This behaviour – and the publicity which tends to surround it – can and does become a source of abiding fear for some. It can also lead people to curtail their activities and alter their routines, thereby casting a long shadow over their quality of life on a daily basis. As a consequence, when establishing the State's first ever National Crime Council, I made one of its key terms of reference the requirement to address the fear of crime and to raise public awareness of crime and crime issues.
I can assure the House that I will continue to monitor existing State responses to the reality of assault on our streets. I will not shy away from introducing further measures, as and when necessary, to promote community security.
