Annesley’s concern over hatchet ‘thugs’
is 83 per cent.
Theft from shop is down by 22 per cent in the district and 13 per cent in Arklow.
Theft other was the only minor offences category in the district to increase, with the figures going from 38 to 44 (up 16 per cent). There was no change in Arklow.
Assaults in the district were down by two per cent and by 32 per cent in Arklow.
There were 35 criminal damage offences reported in the district compared with 67 in the same quarter last year (40 per cent reduction) while they fell from 25 to 17 in Arklow (down 32 per cent).
In relation to public order offences, a drop of 41 per cent was recorded for the district and in Arklow figures fell to 20 from 27 (down 26 per cent).
There were eight cases of assault causing harm so far this year, representing a 100 per cent increase.
Possession of drugs for sale/ supply also saw a jump of 150 per cent but, in reality, the fig- THE drugs situation in Arklow is so bad that thugs are threatening relatives of those who owe drug debts, according to an Arklow Municipal District councillor.
Cllr Tommy Annesley, at a meeting of Wicklow Joint Policing Committee last Wednesday, said that a local woman turned to him for help when a group of men, armed with hatchets, arrived at her home demanding money owed to them by her son.
‘ This woman was in tears. These thugs arrived on her doorstep at 11 o’clock at night and demanded €500 from her. She asked me for the money to pay them to save her young lad,’ he said.
Cllr Annesley demanded to know why there was not a designated garda drugs unit in Arklow and said that, while he is aware all officers have the same powers, designated manpower is badly required in the town to address the situation.
‘Why is there not a drugs task force? We e need it. Yes, all officers s are after the drugs but t they are also tied up p with other incidents. . This is a very serious s issue. Why is Arklow w neglected?’ Cllr Annes- ley asked.
Chief Superinten- - ures were relatively small with two offences in the first quarter of 2017 compared with 5 in the same period this year.
Other reductions were recorded as follows: minor assault (down 13 per cent); rape of a male or female (no change); sexual assault (down 86 per cent); robbery from person (down 100 per cent); interfering with vehicle (down 100 per cent); arson (down 14 per cent); drugs – personal use (down nine per cent); and handling stolen property (down 75 per cent). dent John Paul Quirke said that it is a matter of manpower and there is not enough to provide a designated drugs unit for the town.
‘I have 300 members which have to be spread around the entire county. While we are getting new recruits, we are also losing members to retirement. We can bring in undercover officers and surveillance su is available ble to us if required,’ he said.
Chief Superintendent de Quirke appealed to the public to report such su incidents and to make m gardaí aware if there are issues of concern co so that they can ca be addressed.