Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015
379. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the actions she will take to address knife crime in Dublin, and in particular on public transport in Dublin; if she has considered introducing transport police here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14674/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide the knife crime statistics, in tabular form, for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14676/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra381. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when she last met with representatives of Luas, Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann to discuss the best way to deal with anti-social behaviour on these public transport systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14677/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the detection and conviction rate for knife crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14678/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 to 382, inclusive, together.
I can assure the Deputy that, while I have no direct role in Garda strategies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour on public transport services in Dublin, I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner about all aspects of policing and community safety. The specific deployment of policing resources is a matter for the Garda authorities, as is the question on ongoing engagement and meetings with transport operators.
I am of course aware of the recent very serious incident at a Luas stop in Dublin. As the matter is the subject of a Garda investigation the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to say anything further about it at this time.
In so far as the general approach to tackling these issues are concerned, I am advised that Garda management engages extensively with transport operators in the Dublin area and a range of regional and local operations have been put in place as required to address issues that have arisen at specific locations. Instances of crime and anti-social behaviour are monitored by local Garda management with the assistance of Garda Síochána Analysis Service, which results in periodic operations aimed at anti-social behaviour on and around public transport routes. I am further advised that there is effective communication with the respective control centres and that access to good quality CCTV has also been of great assistance in the investigation of complaints.
I can also inform the Deputy that a comprehensive and robust legal framework is in place with respect to knife crime including heavy penalties for breaches of the laws concerned. There is a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment for possessing a knife in a public place without good reason or lawful authority, and An Garda Síochána also have specific powers of search without warrant in relation to knives and offensive weapons.
With regard to the crime statistics requested by the Deputy, the Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.
I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy. In this regard it should be noted that the CSO is currently carrying out a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime, to see whether and to what extent they may have implications for the crime statistics which that Office produces. The CSO have advised that this has led to a delay in the publication of crime statistics and the latest published crime statistics relate to the second quarter of 2014.
