Written Answers. - Joyriding Offences.
Martin Brady
Ceist:
680
Mr. M. Brady
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the legislative and policing measures he will take to tackle the problem of the persistence of joyriding offences particularly in areas of social and economic disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1814/00]
Martin Brady
Ceist:
687
Mr. M. Brady
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
if he will introduce legislation providing for mandatory prison sentences of five years and upwards, without remission, for those convicted of joyriding offences in view of the persistence of offences, particularly in areas of social and economic disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[1830/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 680 and 687 together.
The offence of unauthorised taking of a mechanically propelled vehicle is a criminal offence under section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended. The legislation pertaining to the investigation of criminal damage e.g. burning out cars is defined under section 2 of the Criminal Damage Act ,1991.
The annual reports of the Garda Síochána shows the number of unauthorised taking of vehicles as 13,793 in 1998, 13,589 in 1997 and 13,405 in 1 996. These statistics contrast with the 1983 total of 19,484 cases of unauthorised taking.
I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the legislation in force is adequate to cover the present situation. I should state however that any amendment to road traffic legislation is a matter for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government who is responsible for all road traffic legislation.
I have been further assured by the Garda authorities that the strategies currently in place to combat joy riding and other criminal damage are reviewed periodically and changes to tactics are made where necessary to ensure continued effectiveness.
With regard to the Deputy's concern about persistent offending, I wish to assure the Deputy that persons serving sentences for persistent offences related to so called joyriding offences are not granted early temporary release except in the most exceptional circumstances. There are no proposals to introduce mandatory prison sentences for these offences.
The Children Bill, 1999, which is at present before the House, provides for the development of a new juvenile justice system and contains many innovative measures for dealing with young offenders.
My Department currently supports and funds programmes in disadvantaged areas – generally referred to as Garda youth diversion schemes – which are community based and are designed to draw people away from crime. Through the combined efforts of local agencies, these projects aim at identifying the young people at risk and assessing intervention programmes to service their needs, promoting productive and creative use of the target groups leisure time with a view to enabling their integration into main stream youth activity groups; and liaising closely with parents, schools, other agencies and the community in general. Other preventative and proactive interventions have been developed in local communities by the Probation and Welfare Service, such as the auto crime diversion project in Cork City.
