Question on scrutiny of goods at car boot sales
A QUESTION about authentification of goods sold at car boot sales was raised at this month’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting of Wexford County Council.
The matter was raised by former independent county councillor Declan MacPartlin, who is one of the lay members of the committee.
Following a presentation from Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) representative Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Clavin, Mr MacPartlin asked if CAB pursues people who sell machinery at car boot sales that was obtained illegally.
He also expressed his hope that CAB is ‘well funded to do its work’ while also commenting that it was one of the best things to come into the county.
Chief Supt Clavin said the organisation has been going for 22 years and continues to be relevant and commented that ‘policy makers want us to go after small criminals as much as big [ones]’.
He said CAB investigates different incidents of crime but added that those engaged in burglary and deceipt incidents rank behind major criminals who are ‘ killing each other’.
The committee members were told that last year CAB investigations ranged from incidents involving around €10,000 to larger crimes yielding €2.7m
‘We think there is merit in going for smaller criminals because it stops some of them from becoming Godfathers if you get them early enough,’ he said.
With regard to Mr MacPartlin’s comment about funding, Chief Supt Clavin said: ‘We are adequately resourced.’