Burglaries on the increase but crime in general down

BURGLARIES in Wexford have increased significantly over the past year but crime in general is on the decrease.

Speaking at yesterday’s (Monday) meeting of the Joint Policing Committee Chief Superintendent John Roche said that the downward trend in crime is continuing with the exception of burglaries. He said last year there had been a decrease of 50 per cent in burglaries and it was hard to maintain that figure.

‘Burglaries have increased but otherwise the figures are much the same. Thefts are down as are thefts from cars. This is peak season for this type of crime and we had some problems in Courtown and Blackwater but this seems to have stopped.

‘Burglaries are up 12 per cent and the increase has been seen in Wexford and Gorey mainly. In Wexford a lot of businesses are being targeted while it is the opposite in Gorey where the majority of burglaries are domestic. There has also been a big increase in Duncannon which is up to 11 from 3. However eight of these were as a result of burglaries from mobile homes in Fethard back in April.

‘Public order offences are down as well while minor assaults are on a par with last year’s fig- ures. There is a two per cent increase in serious assaults. Public order are down by 12 per cent despite the fact that there is more people going out.’ Chief Superintendent Roche said that in the case of domestic abuse victims, they had various options open to them in the courts.

‘They can apply for a barring order which is in force for three years whereby the person committing the abuse had to leave the home or a safety order which is in force for five years. Here the person committing the abuse doesn’t have to leave the home but must stop the violence and threats. If the order is violated we have the power of arrest.’

He said that traffic detections are also on the rise particularly in relation to what he called ‘ lifesaver offences’ which increase speeding and not wearing seat belts. Drug detections are also on the increase he said.

The Chief Superintendent said that the gardai had also been involved in a number of major investigations. Within three hours of the London terror attack the gardai in Wexford were notified that papers connecting one of the terrorists to Wexford had been found and a man was arrested shortly afterwards. He said an exhumation had been carried out recently in Enniscorthy in respect of a historical abuse case.