Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
562. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána, by county in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54955/23]
View answerI am very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities and the Government is determined to tackle this issue.
As the Deputy may be aware the Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB), which I chair, is examining a broad range of issues to address the factors which give rise to ASB, including knife crime. The knife crime sub-group of the ASB Forum has examined existing data and possible approaches to community responses, as well as the legislative position.
The subgroup is assessing available evidence to inform policy on knife crime and are currently considering options including increasing public awareness, and what sanctions will be most effective to address the problem of knife crime. The ASB forum sub-group on knife crime is expected to reconvene on 18 December.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the below table shows the number of objects of sub-type ‘knife’ linked as ‘seized’ with any incident reported since 2020 and as of 6 December 2023 by Garda Division.
Figures are based upon operational data from the PULSE system and are liable to change.
|
Region |
Division |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. Eastern |
76 |
51 |
55 |
41 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. Western |
184 |
167 |
159 |
137 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. Northern |
151 |
126 |
210 |
179 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. Southern |
134 |
93 |
83 |
102 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. North Central |
203 |
188 |
201 |
264 |
|
Dublin Region |
D.M.R. South Central |
257 |
187 |
204 |
224 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Kildare |
73 |
45 |
57 |
58 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Wexford |
43 |
35 |
68 |
45 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Wicklow |
41 |
24 |
37 |
27 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Laois/Offaly |
59 |
71 |
86 |
43 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Waterford |
73 |
67 |
66 |
84 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Kilkenny/Carlow |
44 |
33 |
44 |
32 |
|
Eastern Region (NEW) |
Meath/Westmeath |
92 |
60 |
72 |
82 |
|
North Western Region |
Donegal |
46 |
40 |
42 |
50 |
|
North Western Region |
Galway |
84 |
70 |
105 |
88 |
|
North Western Region |
Sligo/Leitrim |
51 |
28 |
19 |
27 |
|
North Western Region |
Louth/Cavan/Monaghan |
140 |
106 |
211 |
129 |
|
North Western Region |
Mayo/Roscommon/Longford |
65 |
48 |
61 |
51 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Kerry |
28 |
35 |
39 |
36 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Limerick |
86 |
94 |
76 |
104 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Cork City |
172 |
118 |
129 |
94 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Cork West |
15 |
35 |
19 |
13 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Cork North |
47 |
44 |
58 |
33 |
|
Southern Region (NEW) |
Clare/Tipperary |
96 |
71 |
61 |
88 |
