Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 3

Written Answers. - Crime Statistics.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

60 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to any increase in the crime rate with particular reference to attacks on women and elderly people; if he will outline the detection rate in relation to reported crime for each of the years 1986 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

Garda crime statistics are not maintained in a way which would show the proportion of criminal cases in which the victims were women and consequently it is not possible to say whether the proportion of such cases is increasing or decreasing.

What can be said, however, is that there is, worldwide, a discernible increase in awareness that the incidence of criminal attacks on women — simply because they are women — is a problem of significant proportions. Side by side with the increased awareness of the problem is a growing determination on the part of law enforcement agencies — including the Garda Síochána — to tackle it with every means at their disposal.

An essential step in dealing with the issue is that it be brought out into the open and discussed. I have already announced, as part of my Law Enforcement Package for 1992, that violence against women will be the subject of specific attention by law enforcement agencies this year and, as part of this endeavour, I have arranged that a national conference on the subject will be held later in the year which will be addressed by experts from this country and elsewhere. This, I expect, will make a significant contribution to enlightened debate on the matter and improved understanding of what we need to do, as a society, in order to deal effectively with it.

I have also of course had the opportunity of introducing some very important legislative measures in this field such as the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990 and, more recently, the Criminal Evidence Bill. The Bill sets out to protect the victims of domestic violence by clearly establishing the circumstances in which the spouse of an accused is competent or compelled to give evidence. For example, a wife will be obliged to give evidence for the prosecution if her husband is accused of violence against her or of violence or a sexual offence against a child.

With regard to attacks on the elderly, I am pleased to say that the measures taken by the Garda authorities to deal with the problem have proved to be very effective in that there was a 90 per cent decrease in the level of such attacks recorded in the period 1984-90. While 1991 figures are not yet available the indications are that there has been no change in this situation. There is no such thing of course as an acceptable level of attacks on the elderly and the Garda are taking every possible measure to prevent these crimes occurring and to detect and apprehend those responsible for such acts. The Garda authorities, in conjunction with Muintir na Tíre, are continuing to promote the community alert scheme which is the rural equivalent of neighbourhood watch and which involves local people maintaining contact with elderly people and bringing any suspicious circumstances to the notice of the Garda. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are now 357 community alert schemes throughout the country.

In addition the successful community policing scheme, which was put into place in 100 rural stations last September, has enabled the Garda to spend more time on operational duties including in particular visits to the elderly.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are satisfied that the problem of attacks on the elderly is being effectively tackled. Fully recognising, as they do, however, that there are no grounds for complacency, the situation must be and will be kept under constant review.

Finally with regard to overall crime detection rates for the years 1986-90 the position is as follows:

Year	%
1986	31.6
1987	32.6
1988	33.2
1989	33.2
1990	33.1