Peadar Tóibín
Question:59. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of knives seized by gardaí in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [55100/23]
View answerTuesday, 12 December 2023
Questions (59)
Written answers
We are all sadly very conscious of the effect that knife crime can have on the quality of life for local communities and I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to supporting An Garda Síochána to tackle this issue.
The Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) 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. I have been briefed on the work of the sub-group and the question of what further measures might be progressed is subject to consultation with relevant stakeholders.
There is also a comprehensive and robust legal framework in place in Ireland with respect to knife crime, including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned. The maximum penalty in the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 for a conviction for possessing a knife in a public place, without good reason or lawful authority, was increased from one to five years in an amendment introduced via the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009.
Knife crime is a broad term, one which has no official classification in crime statistics compiled by An Garda Síochána and published by the Central Statistics Office. This is because knives may be used in the commission of many different types of offence, ranging from threats and intimidation, robbery and theft, to serious assaults and murder.
There are many complex, interlinked and variable causes for the use of knives in the commission of offences. As a result, there are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed to address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to anti-social behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda Authorities for the information requested and will provide the information separately. However I can inform the Deputy that 2,027 knives have been seized this year as of 4 December 2023.