Ministertoacton crimeinBlessington

April 1992

A TWO-PRONGED effort at combating crime in Blessington involving a 24 hour garda presence and additional gardai during the summer months, is being considered by the Justice Minister Padraig Flynn. Proposals were delivered to the Minister by Blessington and District community Council.

The community council highlighted that Blessington has a particular problem with crime, with 75 per cent of crimes committed in west Wicklow taking place in the Blessington area of Baltinglass District.

They believe this is for two reasons: because the area is only 10 miles from some of the most deprived areas of Dublin and because of a small minority of trouble-makers among the thousands of visitors coming to the area at the weekends.

The Committee further pointed out that because criminals are aware that there is no garda presence in the area between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. much of the crime occurs at this time. They called for the garda patrol car to be on duty for 24 hours each day, but not at the expense of day time garda strength.

They also highlighted the fact that in the summertime when gardai are taking their annual leave they are not replaced by another garda or overtime.

‘As a result when our problems are at a maximum in the summer, our garda presence is at a minimum.’