GARDAI TURN FOCUS TO DRUG OFFENCES
RISE IN DRUG CRIME LAST YEAR DUE TO CRACKDOWN, JPC MEETING IS TOLD
‘There were a spate of robberies in Wicklow town during December. There were three separate incidents. A suspect has been identified and we hope to make progress soon.’
There were no murder cases in 2016, compared to one in 2015. The number of rapes over both years was the same, 14, while sexual assaults rose from 48 to 51. Assaults causing harm were down from 64 to 57, while there was a reduction in minor assaults from 285 to 279.
Broken down into districts; assaults causing harm rose in Baltinglass from 6 to 8 and in Bray from 27 to 33, while Wicklow experienced a rapid reduction from 31 to 16.
Baltinglass experienced a rise from 39 to 59 in major assaults, while the figures in Bray dropped from 114 to 100 and in Wicklow from 132 to 120.
Drug offences for personal rose dramatically over the year in Baltinglass from 35 to 73 and in Wicklow town from 168 to 228, with only Bray noticing a decrease from 281 to 199.
Chief Superintendent Quirke said the battle against drugs had been a major feature of Garda activity in both Baltinglass and Wicklow, hence the increase in arrests.
‘The increases are an indicator of the improved level of Garda activity involving drugs over the past six or so months. In Wicklow and Baltinglass it has been made one of the key priorities. One of the main reasons for the rise in drug offences is because of increased Garda activity. There is lots of interaction taking place with community groups. They are addressing us on different issues and we have responded to the information we have received.’
Arrests for the sale or supply of drugs in the Wicklow rose from 16 to 22, while dropping in Bray from 62 to 40 and in Baltinglass from 7 to 6.
The cultivation of drugs also appears to be on the rise, with 1 and 2 incidents recorded in Baltinglass and Bray last year compared to none in 2015, and 4 incidents in Wicklow compared to 2 in 2015.
‘This is an ongoing issue which will have to be addressed. More people are getting involved in the cultivation of drugs, mainly cannabis. The amounts may not be huge but there is still an increase in people growing their own in attics and other locations,’ said Chief Superintendent Quirke.
County-wide drink driving offences at mandatory checkpoints rose from 1,370 to 1,370, while 176 motorists last year were found to be over the limit after being stopped for suspicion of drunk driving, compared to 159 a year earlier.
All three districts experienced a reduction in aggravated burglaries, mainly due to the arrest of a number of repeat offenders who were processed through the courts, with some receiving significant prison sentences.
Overall burglaries dropped by 28 per cent, from 142 incidents in Baltinglass in 2015 to 88 in 2016, while the number of incidents in Bray dropped from 405 to 330 and in Wicklow from 265 to 213.
The Chief Superintendent credited anti-burglary initiatives such as Operation Thor for the drop in numbers.
He said: ‘Travelling criminals are coming to Wicklow, particularly from Dublin, with the purpose of committing crimes. Last weekend four well known criminals from Tallaght were intercepted. There was a car chase and the four suspects crashed their car and left it behind. They were arrested a short time later.
‘I am told there will be further funding in 2017 to maintain the high profile we have. We have patrols out throughout the county, which are sent out at key times using data in relation to burglaries and the times incidents are most likely to occur.’
Thefts from vehicles remains a major problem, though only Baltinglass experienced a rise in such incidents, 82 in 2015 compared to 85 last year. In Bray the thefts fell from 328 to 276, while the dropped in Wicklow from 244 to 223.
Chief Superintendent Quirke outlined a number of measures which he hopes will further tackle the issue.
‘There thefts tend to happen in key tourist resorts, such as Glendalough, Brittas Bay, Powerscourt, Blessington Lakes, and all major areas with significant tourist numbers. We are in discussions with the OPW about placing CCTV at Glendalough. It would be of significant benefit for people coming down in their cars to visit. Thefts from vehicles also affects the economic development of the county as well.’
The number of reports of unauthorised taking of vehicles also fell in Bray (from 53 to 35) and Wicklow (39 to 25) and remains the same in Baltinglass (15) but Chief Superintendent Quirke still warned the public to remain vigilant in case they are targeted.
‘The key issue is the targeting of houses to steal cars from, In particular they are looking for high-end cars which can be used for burglaries or crime, or instead can be dissembled and sold abroad. Over the last couple of years we have found a number of chop shops in County Wicklow and elsewhere. I would advise the public not to leave their keys in the hallway where they can be fished out.’
Thefts from shops county-wide fell by eight per cent, though there was a noticeable increase in Baltinglass from 32 incidents to 44. HIMSELF is taking this health kick very seriously. He is determined to do better than me which, let’s be frank, wouldn’t be hard. This does not surprise me as he is the most competitive person I know. He once played Trivial Pursuit with The Eldest for four hours because he wouldn’t just let him win!
He played tennis five times this week and went for a walk every night. He has eaten no crap and hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol. I am allergic to him! By Wednesday night I was hanging for a crisp sambo so to distract myself I decided to have a gin and tonic instead. Feck Dry January!
‘I thought you were doing Dry January?’ he said disapprovingly. ‘Well, come on. We both know that was never going to happen. I think lasting three days was good going!’
I enjoyed my gin and tonic so much I decided to have another one. ‘Shiny glass?’ I said, holding out my empty. ‘You’re having another??’ he asked. I presumed it was a rhetorical question.
And it worked. The G&T did take my mind off the Tayto sambo but moved it onto Pringles instead, resulting in me eating half a tub. The next morning I got up and weighed myself. To my dismay I weighed exactly the same as the week before, even though I’d gone three days without alcohol and crisp sandwiches.
I decided the scales wasn’t working properly so I threw it out. I hotfooted it up to Tesco and paid €32 for a brand new one.
As I stood up on it I was convinced I’d have lost at least four pounds. But I still weighed the same! I tried jumping on it really quickly and jumping off again. I even took my jewellery off! No joy.
Himself meanwhile has lost three pounds. I hate him! He’s prancing around the house like Mr Motivator, saying it’s all about willpower. ‘It’s mind over matter. That’s all it is. You have to say to yourself ‘No. I don’t want that Magnum.’
But I feckin do want the Magnum that’s the problem! And the Tayto sambo...and the G&T. I want all of it and I want it now!! Willpower is overrated and life is too short. My excuses are coming fast and furious!
In a bid to cheer myself up I’ve decided to try and sabotage his success by adding extra butter and cream to his spuds when he’s not looking! I’m giving him full fat milk when he thinks he’s drinking low fat and I’ve been frying his chicken breasts in butter. That should tip the scales in my favour this week!
I know. I’m a bad person.