asked the Minister for Justice if a published report stating that there had been a 50 per cent increase in the crime rate for indictable housebreakings and larcenies in Dublin in the 12 months ending 30th September, 1966, is true; and, if so, if he will comment on the report with a view to allaying public uneasiness on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housebreakings and Larceny.
103.
I have seen reports, published in somewhat identical terms, in three of our principal newspapers which purported to give the contents of a confidential police document.
I assure the House that such a police document was not communicated to the press from any official source and I deplore in the very strongest terms the action of these newspapers in publishing as they did what they thought to be the contents of a letter passing between two senior police officers containing police information and views.
I am glad to reassure the House that the newspaper reports referred to contained only garbled and grossly inaccurate versions of the particular police document.
In reply to the Deputy's specific question and with a view to allaying public uneasiness, I want to say that there is no truth in the published statements that, in the 12 months ending on 30th September, 1966, there was an increase of 55 per cent in the crime rate for indictable housebreakings and larcenies in the Dublin Metropolitan District. The crime statistics for the 12 months ended on 30th September have not yet been fully compiled and will not be ready for analysis for some time yet but, already, it is apparent that while there has been an increase in house breakings and larcenies it was nowhere of the order mentioned.