We must heed the Garda warning over street crime

JUST over a year ago I was asked by the then Lord Mayor of Dublin, the formidable Brendan Carr, to chair a community-wide forum he was hosting on crime in the capital. Held in City Hall – made famous internationally this week by Bob Geldof’s admirable decision to hand back his Freedom of Dublin scroll in protest at Aung San Suu Kyi’s presence on the same list – it was a fascinating discussion on spiralling crime in the city.

The top brass from An Garda Síochána were among the many State and voluntary organisations who participated in a lively discussion on crime.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the most formidable contributions to the forum came from our police force.

The speakers, from assistant commissioner down, were in no doubt that within a year they would have got to grips with gang crime in the capital. The events of the past few weeks have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the gardaí are bang on the money when it comes to taking down the cartels and feuding gangs.

So when I hear the same senior gardaí give their annual analysis of crime, I prick up my ears.

This week Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy in effect pleaded that we begin to focus again on street crime, alcoholrelated incidents and publicorder offences before they get out of control.

He pointed out that. in many ways, it’s back to the future in the capital with street crime now back up to the levels from 2008, before the economic collapse.

There is one critical difference – frontline Garda numbers have dropped by an incredible 640, despite a rising population and soaring tourist numbers. Alcoholrelated crimes have rocketed by 40%, public-order offences have jumped 14% in the past year, while crimes against the person increased by 8%.

These startling revelations were lost this week because they were overshadowed by insensitive comments about people who find themselves homeless through no fault of their own.

Yes, it’s been a difficult few years for the gardaí, but the ominous warnings from a respected senior garda – who has a proven track record – should be heeded by our politicians. Maybe instead of trying to get their local station reopened as crime drops on the outskirts of Dublin, they should take the advice of those who police us.