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Prosecution Rates.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2004

Wednesday, 5 May 2004

Questions (24)

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

20 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by members of the gardaí that there has been a huge drop in prosecution rates for street crime in Dublin since the introduction of a new system under which prosecuting officers are removed from the case and all files are passed instead to a presenting officer; if his attention has further been drawn to this problem; the steps being taken to address it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12674/04]

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Written answers

I am informed by the Garda authorities that section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 provides for the admissibility of documentary evidence of arrest, charge and caution and other specified matters, by way of certificate. This provision is regarded as a very positive development in that it eliminated the necessity for large numbers of gardaí having to attend court and thereby freed up gardaí to concentrate on operational policing duties. The Garda authorities have informed me that, since its introduction, there is no evidence to suggest that this development has resulted in a huge drop in prosecution rates for street crime.

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