John O'Donoghue
Ceist:2 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the measures, if any, she will introduce to bring the spiralling crime problem in Dublin city under control; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13747/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Crime Level.
Since becoming Minister for Justice, I have dealt with this matter in great detail on a number of occasions in the House and, as I have stated on those occasions, in approaching a serious issue such as crime, we must be careful to set out, correctly and precisely, the extent of the problem. We cannot hope to reduce crime if we do not start out from the correct base. The crime problem is not a recent phenomenon. There have been increases in crime recorded for each year since 1989.
Generally, we have to look at the problem from two points of view. First, and most fundamentally, there is the question of our broad strategic approach to the problem — are our efforts, as a society, focused on the correct targets? Second, there is the question of resources. I will deal with both issues in the course of my response, but before I refer to either it is right to say that we should begin by looking dispassionately at the facts.
The figures for 1994 which will be published shortly will show a 2 per cent increase in indictable crime for the Dublin Metropolitan Area as a whole. This upward trend is continuing in 1995. However, the crime situation differs from area to area. Last week, for instance, I attended a meeting in an area of Dublin where there has been a substantial drop in crime due to the successful targeting of key criminals. It should also be borne in mind that violent crime is a very small fraction of the overall number of crimes committed. In this regard, it is worth noting that much of the current increase is due to one offence in particular, larcenies from motor vehicles.
While it is not an answer to any problem to say it could be worse, it is instructive, in terms of developing a better understanding of the problem of crime, to look at what has been happening in other countries. The Report of the Lord Mayor's Commission on Crime which was published earlier this year points out that crime figures for Dublin are below those for urban areas in England and Wales which, in turn, are below the western European average. That same report shows that the level of crime in Dublin has not increased greatly since 1983. This does not tell us that "all's well" in Dublin in so far as crime is concerned, but that there appears to be a worldwide trend and we will have to work ceaselessly and employ a variety of strategies in Dublin and other large urban areas if we are to avoid going the way of urban areas throughout Europe and beyond.
One message which comes across clearly in discussion with other countries is that it is critical we address causes as well as symptoms. The Inter-Departmental Report on Urban Crime and Disorder was an important and significant contribution to looking at the causative factors and developing strategies to deal with them. Much has already been achieved by way of implementing that report and my Department is currently reviewing the effectiveness of the particular strategies adopted. I will have more to say on this subject of strategy when the review is finalised.
The House will be aware I have already taken it as one of the cornerstones of our strategic response to crime that we comprehensively tackle the drugs problem. I have fully outlined my plans in this regard and Deputies will be aware that a crucial element of the strategy is that we attack the demand reduction side as well as the supply side. The former will require inputs by the Departments of Health and Education, in particular, and I am confident these inputs will be forthcoming. Deputies will be aware also that I have announced comprehensive plans to reduce the supply of drugs by means of legislative and various other changes. The treatment of drug abusers in our prisons, particularly Mountjoy, is also being examined and I will be in a position shortly to outline my proposals to Government. Because a number of these offenders are responsible for high levels of crime in Dublin, I am anxious that facilities are available to allow prisoners to be treated and thereby reduce recidivism.
Resources for those charged with the responsibility of fighting crime are also crucial and, in this regard, I have provided a total of £413 million for the Garda Síochána this year — the highest amount ever — to allow the force to effectively tackle crime.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 3,992 gardaí allocated to the DMA at present. Drug units have been established in each of the city's five Garda divisions and their activities are co-ordinated through the central drug squad based in Harcourt Square. The approach has enabled the central drug squad to monitor the activities of drug dealers all over the city and it has significantly enhanced the Garda intelligence gathering capability. In addition to the central drug squad, full time drug units operate in Santry, Cabra, Raheny, Dún Laoghaire, Crumlin, Ballyfermot, Tallaght, Store Street, Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Donnybrook.
Deputies will be aware from answers to previous Dáil questions that these sizeable resources will be employed, among other things, to maintain the strength of the force, advance civilianisation and also advance a major information technology plan for the gardaí aimed at increasing the overall efficiency of the force in its battle against crime.
A number of steps are also being taken to minimise the amount of Garda time spent in court. There are three garda inspectors attached to the Bridewell who have responsibility for co-ordinating Garda appearances in the Four Courts. As regards the present procedural arrangements for dealing with criminal cases and, in particular, the amount of Garda time spent unproductively, the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is at an advanced stage, will address the problem. There are also a number of provisions to be included in the Courts and Court Officers Bill which will improve the efficiency of the courts in bringing cases to trial more quickly.
Additional funding has been provided this year towards the implementation of special measures to prevent and detect crime. One such measure is the installation of closed circuit TV cameras in areas of Dublin City centre as an aid to policing. The installation of a system in the Temple Bar area will be the first such project to be undertaken. Funding for the project has jointly come from the Department of Justice and Temple Bar Properties Limited.
The international experience has been that the installation of these cameras leads to a substantial drop in crime and that this decrease is a genuine one, not just a displacement of the problem to another area.
Projects such as this are part of the answer to making our streets safer. Funding has been provided for the coming years to extend this scheme to other locations, such as O'Connell Street, Grafton Street, Henry Street and to other city centre areas and outlying areas as well.
I am confident that these measures, together with legislative changes and other strategies such as the comprehensive plans that I have announced to deal with the drugs problem, provide for a considered response to the problem of crime. I am acknowledging that the task is one that requires continuous attention and continuous review of strategy. As Minister for Justice, I am committed to the vigorous pursuit of this task as a matter of top priority not only for me but for the Government as a whole.
We have been telling the Minister for Justice since Christmas that 80 per cent of indictable crime is drug related. I am pleased the Minister accepts that. Will she accept that there are parts of Dublin city where the increase in crime is considerably higher than 2 per cent and that it has spiralled out of control? Will she tell the House what precisely she intends to do in these areas in order to protect vulnerable people who live in or pass through these places?
I acknowledge there are parts of the city of Dublin where the level of crime would be higher than the average, as the provisional figures indicate. There is a direct correlation between the levels of crime in the inner city and the instance of heroin addiction. Most of the heroin addiction and the supply of heroin takes place inside Dublin city area and slightly outside the core of the city. Most heroin addicts live in Dublin. There is no doubt there is a direct link between people who are on heroin and the level of crime. The measures I have outlined are being implemented in these areas as well as all over Dublin. I have had numerous discussions with the Garda Commissioner about my concerns that there are parts of Dublin city where crime levels are a great deal higher than they should be and I have asked him to be conscious of that when deploying the Garda Síochána. I indicated in the Dáil that already this year the vast majority of the gardaí passing out from Temple-more are being deployed in the greater Dublin area. This is one of the ways of getting to grips with crime.
In relation to Deputy O'Donoghue's general inference that somehow nothing is happening in those areas, I have already said publicly that there is a link between the level of crime and the level of drug abuse and drug selling. By and large, perpetrators of serious crime, including the drug trafficking that takes place in these areas of Dublin city, do not operate in a readily transparent and readily detectable way. There is a complex system of agents and runners and a number of transactions can take place before drugs are actually delivered to the buyer. The agent on the street may not be the person who is handling the drugs. Detection becomes harder as the original perpetrator moves further away. The principal requirement on which the Garda depend in these cases is good intelligence. For that reason information technology systems are being expanded for the Garda so that they can make use of the most modern equipment and resources to get the intelligence they need to fight inner city crime.
Will the Minister request the Garda authorities to prepare a concentrated plan of action in order to clear up the crisis areas in this city?
At all times the Assistant Commissioner, specially assigned for the Dublin Metropolitan Area, is responsible for recognising and targeting particular areas. I will certainly continue my discussions with him on a regular basis to ensure that those areas of Dublin city which are sometimes labelled, not by me but by people living in them and by the media, as "no go" areas, receive particular attention.
Will the Minister accept that something needs to be done in Dublin in relation to the free availability of firearms?
There is a number of laws in place to convict and prosecute people who are caught with firearms. There is no information readily available to me to indicate an increase in the availability of firearms. Provisional figures indicate a welcome lessening in the number of crimes committed in the first half of this year using firearms. Even that statistic does not give me any joy in view of the fact that a number of crimes are still being committed with firearms.