Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2020
170. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding tackling violent crimes involving knives; the new initiatives under way to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25795/20]
View answer171. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the actions taken to date to monitor the prevalence and frequency of persons carrying knife-like instruments on their persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25796/20]
View answer172. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána in Cork city and county in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25797/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, together.
I can inform the Deputy that An Garda Síochána are currently operating an Assaults in Public Reduction Strategy 2019-2021, which is targeted at tackling all types of assaults in public. This national strategy is informed by a pro-arrest, early-investigation and proactive high-visibility approach to assault reduction. It places particular emphasis on prevention, education and awareness. The strategy promotes early prosecution of offenders where feasible and appropriate.
An Garda Síochána also address the issue of knife crime through education and engagement with community initiatives.
At an operational level, An Garda Síochána pro-actively targets public disorder and anti-social behaviour, including knife-related crime, through the strategic deployment of Garda resources, and areas identified as public order hot-spots by local Garda management are the subject of additional foot and mobile patrols.
A comprehensive and robust legal framework is in place with respect to knife crime including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the maximum penalty for a conviction for possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority was increased from one to five years. An Garda Síochána also have an extended power of search without warrant in relation to knives and offensive weapons.
The table below outlines the number of knives seized in Cork between January 2019 and December 2019.
|
Cork City |
Cork North |
Cork West |
Total |
|
160 |
72 |
23 |
255 |
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has published a draft new Youth Justice Strategy in tandem with an online consultation, which has been completed recently. The draft Strategy is currently being refined with reference to the outcome of the public consultation and the views of key stakeholders, with a view to presenting the finalised version to Government by the end of the year.
A key priority for this new Strategy will be to strengthen and expand the role of the Garda Youth Diversion projects and other community-based initiatives, including those working with the Probation Service. Bringing the full range of relevant interventions together in a coherent and holistic response to youth crime will support the objective of diverting young people from crime and anti-social behaviour, including knife crime.
