Seymour Crawford
Ceist:41 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice if she has satisfied herself that the annual published crime statistics reflect the true level of crime.
Written Answers. - Crime Statistics.
Pat Rabbitte
Ceist:65 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice if she will give her response to the Report of the Garda Commissioner for 1992; the steps, if any, she will take to deal with the unacceptable levels of crime disclosed in the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:76 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice if she will give her views on the increase in crime outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area as evidenced in the Report on Crime for 1992; and the steps, if any, she proposes to counteract this trend.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 65 and 76 together.
The Garda Commissioner's annual report on crime for 1992 indicated that 95,391 indictable crimes were recorded in 1992 compared to 94,406 in 1991, an increase of 1 per cent. However, the 1992 figure is still nearly 7 per cent lower than the 1983 figure. Recorded crime levels in the DMA in 1992 showed a decrease of 1.9 per cent on the corresponding figure for 1991 while the level of indictable crime in the rest of the country, increased by 4.7 per cent on the corresponding figure for 1991.
Figures for 1993 are not yet available, however, I am aware that the indications are that these will show some increase on the 1992 figures. I am confident however, that the measures contained in the law and order package which I unveiled last December will make a very significant contribution towards tackling crime. Details are as follows:
—An accelerated recruitment of 407 gardaí in 1994;
—An annual intake of 350 recruits for the period 1995 to 1997 to maintain the strength of the force at its present level;
—Recruitment of 200 civilian clerical/administrative staff in the period 1994 to 1997 to release an equivalent number of gardaí for operational duties;
—Implementation of an Information Technology Plan for the Garda;
—Upgrading of Garda Communications Network;
—Optimum replacement of Garda fleet;
—Installation of closed circuit television to combat city crime;
—Further development of community-based measures in areas of disadvantage;
—Implementation of certain, non-legal, proposals of the Government's Advisory Committee on Fraud;
—Providing an additional 210 prison places;
—Recruitment of an additional 50 Probation and Welfare Officers and support staff in the period 1994 to 1997;
—The provision of additional Probation and Welfare facilities;
—The appointment of three additional judges and support staff.
The measures contained in the package reflect the fact that crime in modern day society is a very broad and complex area. For this reason the package not only contains measures which some would term "traditional", i.e. increased Garda recruitment, more prison places, etc. which are of course of immense importance and which are major factors in the package, but also less obvious measures, e.g. implementation of an information technology plan for the Garda, upgrading of the Garda communications network. The total cost of implementation of this package will be £66 million and as the House will appreciate this represents a major initiative by the Government and is the most concentrated effort to tackle crime in recent decades. I am confident it will have long lasting and significant benefits for the public.
At operational level, the Garda monitor and constantly review and adapt their strategies to deal with crime. Specific plans of action are drawn up in each district to deal with crime problems in their areas and Garda resources are specifically targeted to meet specific anti-crime needs in particular areas.
I am aware that concern has been expressed recently in certain quarters that a high level of crime in Ireland is not reported. The compilation of crime statistics is primarily a matter for the Garda authorities. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all crimes reported to them are recorded. Crime is also recorded on the basis of other factors, e.g. when a member of the Garda Síochana witnesses a criminal act or if the perpetrator subsequently admits to having committed a crime. It is a known fact that in virtually every country in the world a certain percentage of crime is not reported and Ireland is no exception to this. I do not believe that it is logical or that there is evidence to set aside the information produced by the Garda Commissioner as to the actual crime situation.