asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a recent statement by an assistant commissioner of the Garda Síochána indicating a more business-like approach to the policing of the Dublin Metropolitan area which involved specific plans and targets with regular reviews, targeting of high crime areas, violent crime, crime against tourists and an increase in neighbourhood policing; if he has had discussions with the Commissioner with a view to implementing this new approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Policing of Dublin.
11.
I am aware of the interview referred to in the question.
I am of course in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner on all aspects of crime prevention and detection policy. The Garda authorities continually monitor the crime situation in Dublin and elsewhere and assess and adapt their operational strategies and tactics as the need arises to meet changing crime patterns.Part of their strategy involves the preparation by each district officer in the Dublin Metropolitan Area of programmes of measures designed to reduce the incidence of the types of crime that most affect his district. Particular attention is given in this connection to crimes of violence.
The new computerised command and control system for the Dublin Metropolitan Area which will come into operation shortly is a feature of the Garda national communications network and will provide greatly improved management information facilities with data on the frequency and location of particular types of crime. The system will enable Garda management to deploy resources in the DMA with much greater effectiveness.
The Garda authorities, following consultation with Bord Fáilte, have also drawn up a strategy specifically designed to deal with the problem of attacks on tourists. Moreover, additional Garda resources have been devoted to general crime prevention in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, with the continued expansion of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and the planned extension of community policing in the DMA.
This approach to policing the DMA, with its emphasis on targeting specific serious crime problems and on neighbourhood or community policing, has evolved and been developed with my full support and active encouragement.
I should like to join with the Minister in expressing support and appreciation of the Assistant Commissioner's plan for the Dublin Metropolitan Area. Has the Commissioner indicated willingness to transfer personnel to areas where they are needed? As pointed out in the plan, there will be areas in particular need of extra personnel such as high crime areas and those where there is a need for neighbourhood policing. Has the Commissioner indicated a willingness to back up support with personnel?
I am quite satisfied that the Garda Commissioner, bearing in mind all the demands on manpower, is fully conscious of the need for greater police effort. He has at all times to my knowledge met that need and I am quite satisfied he will continue to do so.
I would refer the Minister to the fact that this plan was drawn up because the crime rate had indicated a failure to tackle this problem. The personnel have not been put into these areas, as they need to be. Will the Minister impress on the Commissioner the need to follow through on the policy which has been indicated?
I refer the Deputy to the last sentence of my initial reply. I said that the approach to policing the DMA, with its emphasis on targeting specific serious crime problems and on neighbourhood or community policing, has evolved and been developed with my full support and active encouragement. That has been, is and will be my position.