Drugs unit has achieved some big successes

The drugs unit in Dundalk has achieved some good successes against major players in the illegal drugs trade in the area, Supt Gerry Curley told the public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee which took place in Blackrock Community Centre last week.

He said that the unit comprises one sergeant and three gardai and he hoped to increase it going forward.

Referring to the crime statistics for the year up until the end of October, he said that while there had been a 49% reduction in arrests for Section 3 drug offences, ie, possession of drugs for personal use, there had been a 26% increase in detections for possession of drugs for sale or supply up to 51, as this was the area they are focusing on. There were different levels of suppliers, from small players to the godfathers.

They were also using their powers to seize vehicles which weren’t taxed or insured to target those involved in drugs and serious crime.

A total of 402 vehicles had been seized during the period, and he described it as an important piece of legislation which allowed them to target those using cars for crime, as well as taking dangerous vehicles off the road.

Checkpoints were another mechanism to crackdown on criminals who are targeting vulnerable people and they were putting patrols into areas where they were needed.

There were 887 checkpoints so far, as well as 704 checkpoints aimed a detecting drink drivers across a 24 hour period. Traffic collisions amounted to 592 up until the end of October.

There had been a decrease in the number of burglaries and break-ins which were down 13% from 213 in the first ten months last year to 186 this year.

Thefts from shops were up 24% to 360 but thefts from cars were down from 117 to 99. There was a small increase in other thefts, such as drive-offs, to 153.

There was also an increase in robberies, which he branded as ‘one of the more serious crimes where a person is put in fear’, which were up 21% to 31.

Assaults were down 17% from 248 to 206 this year. He said that gardai had focused particularly in hot spots in Dundalk town and Carlingford, where they had put in extra patrols at weekends, holiday periods and during the summer.

There was an increase in the number of domestic incidents, up 13% to 346. As well as that there were 286 domestic incidents with no offence disclosed which he explained arose when gardai were called to an incident but no complaint was made. He said that they would always make a follow-up call within a week so that people would have the opportunity to make a complaint if they wished,

There were 121 people reported missing up until the end of October, of which 91 were considered high risk.

This takes up a substantial amount of garda time as the onus is on them to investigate disappearances, especially if young people are involved. ‘It’s essential we try to find them before they get into harms way,’ he said.

A total of 99 people were detained under the Mental Health Act and he said there were also they notify TUSLA of situations and vice versa.