Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:568. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of knives seized in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6130/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 February 2022
Ceisteanna (568)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the Government shares the public concern arising from serious crimes involving knives in recent months and years. We are all conscious of the very serious impact which violent crime has on victims and families, particularly attacks of a random nature. I condemn such crimes in the strongest possible terms.
In line with a commitment in the Programme for Government, I have established an Expert Forum on Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). The Forum is examining a broad range of issues with a focus on developing measures which will counteract the negative impact of ASB on community morale and quality of life. This has included two subgroups established to consider the specific issues of knife crime and the misuse of scramblers and quadbikes. Other subgroups may be established to tackle additional specific issues as required.
The knife crime subgroup is assessing available evidence to inform policy on knife crime, with particular reference to effectiveness of proposals, to inform both legislation and community safety policies, programmes and practices. The work of this subgroup is ongoing and is expected to conclude in the coming months.
My Department is also currently looking at data sources to improve data quality in this area. Officials are engaging with public health colleagues, as well as An Garda Síochána, to improve our understanding of the level of violent assaults within our society.
Crime of any sort is not a phenomenon that exists in isolation. It is inevitably connected to significant and often complex underlying factors. Information provided by An Garda Síochána notes that knife-related crime trends should also be viewed in the context of the pandemic and the associated general decrease in criminality, but also the successful number of proactive seizures and interventions by Gardaí. Increases in seizures may be due to proactive policing operations, particularly during 2020, with the increased Garda presence in support of the COVID-19 public health measures.
There was also a substantial year-on-year increase in the number of searches conducted in 2020, many of which were associated with An Garda Síochána’s high visibility operations supporting the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated Garda operations (such as Operation Fanacht).
An Garda Síochána is currently operating an Assault Reduction Strategy, which includes assaults with offensive weapons, and the 'Use Your Brain Not Your Fists' campaign, highlighting the dangers and consequences of assaults to not only the victims, but to perpetrators as well.
To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have contacted the Garda Authorities for the information requested and I have been advised that for the years in question the number of knives seized by An Garda Síochána are as follows:
|
Year |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Count of Knives Seized |
2,145 |
2,253 |
1,818 |
Figures were collated based on PULSE data as of 1:30am on 2 February 2022. They are operational and may be liable to change.