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Crime Prevention

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2013

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Ceisteanna (172)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

172. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that the law is sufficiently robust to deal with gangs who are involved in the theft of clothes from charity clothes banks and who have caused damage to the clothes banks; and the number of prosecutions, if any, that have taken place in each of the past three years against persons apprehended for theft or damage of this kind. [28337/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An Garda Síochána’s Policing Plan 2013, sets out the continued commitment of An Garda Síochána to pro-actively target groups and individuals engaged in criminal activity, including all forms of organised criminal activities. There is a wide range of robust legislation already in place to tackle criminality of the kind referred to by the Deputy. In particular individuals involved in theft or criminal damage are subject to extensive penalties including under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and the Criminal Justice (Criminal Damage) Act 1991.

An Garda Síochána continues to develop and implement new operations and strategies aimed at targeting, dismantling and disrupting criminal networks by utilising advanced analytical and intelligence methodologies. An Garda Síochána also continues to work closely with neighbouring police forces to tackle cross border criminality and transnational criminal groupings. This includes ongoing cooperation and interaction with Europol and Interpol agencies.

I should mention that at my request, I have received a detailed confidential report from the Garda Commissioner on the activities of certain crime gangs involved in bogus charity collection and related criminality. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot go into the detail of the Garda analysis of this phenomenon but I can assure him that extensive operations have been put in place which are successfully impacting and disrupting the activities of those involved.

Insofar as the number of prosecutions that have taken place over the past three years that directly relate specifically to stealing clothes from charity banks and/or causing criminal damage to clothes banks, I am advised that it would not be possible to produced these detailed figures without a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.

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