Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2015
11. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way she plans to address the increasing scourge of burglaries in urban and rural areas; the latest statistics on this issue; the way she plans to ensure crime statistics are reported in an accurate manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1402/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTackling burglary is a joint priority for both myself and the Garda Commissioner, and I assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner with a view to ensuring that there is an effective policing response in place, and that Garda operations take account of evolving trends and patterns in burglary offences.
An Garda Síochána pursue a range of strategies to tackle this type of crime, including in particular the coordinated national strategy targeting burglary, Operation Fiacla. This was introduced in early 2012 and has had considerable success. As of the end of December 2014, 11,688 persons have been arrested, and charges have been brought against 6,711 persons under Operation Fiacla.
I am further advised that specific burglary related operations have been implemented in each Garda Region, in support of Operation Fiacla, to target suspect offenders, disrupt their activities and secure their attendance before the courts.
Operation Acer commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in March 2012. Operation Acer is an intelligence driven operation; and includes analysis-led checkpoints and patrols to target specific areas and case-manage targeted offenders. Operation Acer led to a reduction in burglaries in Dublin by 5% in 2013.
However it is accepted that has been an increase in recorded incidents of burglary in Dublin in recent months. This increase is worrying but I am advised that Gardai are responding to this increase, with a new operational response having been put in place as part of Operation Acer. This includes particular focus on identifying and targeting criminal groups who have played a large part in the recent increase.
A further and related operation, Operation Creeper, assists in the surveillance of Acer targets by monitoring their movements. As a result of the recent burglary increase in Dublin, this Operation has been tasked solely with targeting burglary suspects and several Acer targets have been arrested as a result.
Similar regional operations complement Operation Fiacla throughout the country and a key focus is the targeting of the highly mobile criminal gangs involved in burglary. These groups are being identified and disrupted on a continuous basis by specialist Garda units.
All of these Garda initiatives operate alongside ongoing community policing measures, including ongoing liaison with businesses and households in providing crime prevention advice and assistance to victims of burglary.
My Department and I are continuing to engage closely with the Garda authorities about these measures and their impact, and I am determined that those who invade and disrupt the lives of the public in this way are dealt with robustly.
In addition to the Garda response, I have commenced a broader review of the Criminal Justice system’s response to the problem of burglaries. This will include a particular focus on inter-agency measures in relation to offender management.
Insofar as the question of crime statistics are concerned, as the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the publication of such data rests with the Central Statistics Office as the national statistics agency. Following the publication of the recent Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation, the CSO is carrying out a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the Inspectorate and while this process is underway the CSO has not been in a position to publish more recent definitive figures.
