Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Dec 1993

Vol. 436 No. 7

Written Answers. - Stolen Cars Records.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

118 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice if she has issued a directive in relation to the recording of the numbers of stolen cars; if all reports of stolen cars are recorded by the Garda; and if all of these reports are included in the annual report of the Garda Commissioner on crime statistics.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I have not issued a directive in relation to the recording of the number of stolen vehicles.

The Garda Commissioner has informed me that all reported incidents of stolen vehicles are recorded by the Garda. When a vehicle is unlawfully removed, it may be either a larceny or an unauthorised taking. Such incidents are regarded as larcenies when the vehicle has not been recovered after a period of two months or when the culprit is discovered and has made an attempt to disguise the vehicle.

To establish a larceny it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the suspect at the time of taking the vehicle had the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the vehicle.

Information in relation to the total number of vehicles taken each year is published in the Garda Commissioner's Annual Report on Crime. This includes both larcenies and unauthorised takings.