Heroin usage and anti-social behaviour persist
GUN crime in Limerick is down by 70-80%…there is good interaction between city schools and community gardai, but heroin usage and anti-social behaviour continue to be a scourge.
These were just some of the issues aired at meeting between city councillors and leading member of Garda Siochana.
An increase in burglaries, particularly on the south side of the city, was of concern to Cllr Orla McLoughlin, who asked: “How can this be combated because when an area loses a community garda, they lose an ally?”, in reference to the groundswell of gardai who are retiring.
“We got a great increase in garda personnel as part of the Regeneration package, but I hear that now huge numbers are exiting the Force rapidly,” observed Cllr Cormac Hurley.
Deputy Jan O’Sullivan commented:
“These figures show that you are on top of the crime scene but the concern is how to maintain that progress for the future with the reduction in the numbers at Templemore.
“I hope you are given an undertaking that the numbers in the Force will remain at the present level as people in the city, particularly at night, as people are frightened and are asking for a physical presence in estates, where there are empty houses that attract trouble”.
Cllr John Gilligan said: “Gardai have got on top of the crime situation.
“Gun crime has fallen by 70-80%, but the gardai rarely get the recognition they deserve when they get it right”.
The need to have a special meeting with the gardai to address the spread of heroin usage in the city was called for by Cllr Maurice Quinlivan, and the gardai were congratulated by Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon for their hard work in getting the crime statistics down.
“Community policing in the city is vital – Sergeant Ollie Kennedy and his team do a great job in my area of Garryowen, but I want to ask about the Criminal Assets Bureau. I know it is working away quietly but the public would like to see more in this regard – major drug problems should be punished by CAB affecting the drug pushers’ major assets – I’d like to see a major crackdown”.
The councillor also referred to anti-social behaviour on the Park Canal.
“There’s a lot of drinking and other stuff going on especially near the humpback bridge, which is a real pity as so many more people would enjoy walking this lovely canal walk if they felt secure – CCTV cameras would be a major deterrent here.”
Inspector John O’Reilly said that their numbers are their best strength.
“We did receive 100 extra personnel due to Regeneration – they were mostly young members and despite retirement, we have people of calibre and knowledge who are capable of taking the place of retired members”.
The inspector said he does not anticipate any diminution of “this mainly young garda force”.
“A lot of our success when our resources were slighter was due to the councillors – it’s not a one-horse show and as for CAB, we have a number of people trained and working full time on this. We are in daily contact with them and there are numbers of searches conducted all the time. They work in a legal process that takes time but to go beyond this with you now would be counterproductive.
“However, some of the most active drug pushers are currently in prison”.
