Bernard Durkan
Question:398. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the strength of criminal gangs is being weakened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53088/13]
View answerTuesday, 10 December 2013
Questions (398)
Written answers
The Deputy will appreciate that organised crime, by its very nature, is constantly evolving and diversifying in both its structures and activities and that membership of organised crime groups tends to be fluid in nature. It must also be borne in mind that modern organised criminal groupings are transnational in nature and engage in a wide range of disparate criminal activities. It can, therefore, be difficult to identify definitive numbers of groupings and members involved in such illegal and covert activity at any particular point in time.
However, I can assure the Deputy that the operation of organised crime groups is closely monitored on an ongoing basis by An Garda Síochána and that tackling these groups remains a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. This priority is clearly reflected in the Garda Policing Plan for 2013.
In this regard, An Garda Síochána continues to tackle organised crime through a range of targeted activities designed to disrupt and dismantle their operations. This involves targeting serious criminals and organised criminal groups through the use of focused intelligence led operations by specialist units such as the Organised Crime Unit, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the work of the Criminal Assets Bureau. An Garda Síochána also maintains close liaison with other law enforcement agencies internationally in this area.
The activities of these units are highlighted in the annual reports of An Garda Síochána, e.g. in 2012, the Organised Crime Unit alone undertook 387 targeted operations against criminal groups. While the challenges and threat posed by such groups remains clear, An Garda Síochána continue to arrest and bring those involved in such criminality before the Courts where substantial sentences continue to be handed down for serious crime offences.
Our law enforcement operations are underpinned by a comprehensive framework of criminal law measures which are being fully utilised by the Gardaí. In this regard I should highlight the recent publication of legislation to provide for the establishment of a DNA database to assist the Garda Síochána in tackling crime. The intelligence generated from this database will be of particular value to the Gardaí, and will greatly assist in the investigation of a wide range of serious crimes perpetrated by criminal gangs.
The Deputy will also be aware that the most recent recorded crime statistics, which were released at the end of October show falling trends in the offence numbers for most categories of crime, including offences relating to homicide, kidnapping, weapons and explosives, and drugs related offences. These crime figures reflect well on the work of An Garda Síochána and demonstrate that those involved in criminal gangs are being vigorously opposed. In concluding, I can fully assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána will continue to actively pursue all persons involved in criminal gang activity.