Government failing to deal with organised crime – Byrne

Balbriggan Sinn Féin reopresentative Fergus Byrne said the current rise in organised crime shows that serial legislative change by the government has failed to deliver.

Byrne said money obtained by the Criminal Assets Bureau should be re-directed into community development.

He said:

“The amendments to the motion by the government are disgraceful. They are self-congratulatory and are in denial of the real facts about the increase in crime.

“While Garda numbers have risen many still do not have access to basic tools to perform their job such as new technologies and even email in some cases.

“The civilianisation of Garda administrative functions has not reached targets due to poor organisation and planning.

“The government should ring-fence money obtained by the Criminal Assets Bureau into community development and targeting the causes of crime. Crime prevention must be properly resourced.

“The current crisis with regards to organised crime shows that serial legislative change by the government has failed to deliver.

“There is currently not enough provision for community policing. Increasing community policing would reduce crime and enable contact with the community and opportunities for information gathering that would far outweigh any costs involved.

“As part of any strategy to target organised crime we must increase regulation of cash for gold schemes. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these often provide a ready made market for stolen goods and have led to a rise in aggravated burglaries and bogus callers.

“There has also been a complete failure to date at national and EU level to address legal drugs.

“Although it is important to implement a National Drugs Strategy for 2009-2016, the first period of the National Drugs Strategy made no dent in drug use, in fact drug use increased substantially.”