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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Written Answers - Crime Levels.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

21 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in regard to recent figures showing that so-called joyriding offences had reached their highest level for 15 years, his Department or the Garda is considering any new initiatives to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10990/01]

Joyriding is a complex issue which, while requiring significant inputs from the criminal justice system, can only be tackled to meaningful and lasting effect through a multi-faceted and multi-agency response involving the community and relevant statutory bodies.

In considering the incidence of this amalgam of illegal and dangerous behaviours involving mechanically propelled vehicles, due regard must be had to the significant increase in vehicle numbers on our roads in recent years. In fact, the number of unauthorised takings per 1,000 mechanically propelled vehicles was the second lowest ever recorded in 1999 – the last year for which published statistics are available – and was the lowest in 1998. In absolute terms, the number of unauthorised takings recorded in 1999 is more than 28% lower than that recorded in 1982.

The Garda Síochána is devoting a significant level of resources to combating this form of crime. The Garda authorities continually monitor trends in unauthorised takings with a view to identifying and targeting persistent offenders and areas prone to such activities. Where considered necessary, intelligence-driven measures are put in place to address the problem at local level. Moreover, each Garda division has a traffic unit which, outside of peak traffic hours, targets incidents of joyriding.

The Garda Síochána works closely with other statutory and voluntary organisations on an ongoing basis with a view to addressing the problem comprehensively. Evidence of this can be seen in the involvement of the Garda Síochána in both the south Dublin inter-agency working group on joyriding/anti-social activity and the Priorswood task force on joyriding. As the Deputy is aware, the latter group produced a highly professional research report which I officially launched in February and to which my Department and the Garda authorities are giving full consideration.

In terms of preventative activities, I have significantly increased the number of Garda youth diversion projects, from 12 in 1997 to 51 at present, with a view to diverting young people away from this and other forms of crime. I also understand that Garda juvenile liaison officers and community gardaí avail of every opportunity during the course of their work, particularly in implementing the schools programme, to educate young persons to the dangers posed by joyriding. I am further informed that members of the Garda Síochána give crime prevention advice on ways to reduce this type of offence through Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert and other similar programmes.

I am fully aware of the effects of so-called joyriding on community life, and I am confident that the range of measures being developed by my Department and the Garda Síochána will serve to combat the problem and to maintain law and order.

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