This article is from page 4 of the 2007-11-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
OVERALL crime in Clare has fallen by four per cent so far this year, while there has been a massive increase of 28 per cent in public order offences.
Figures relayed to members of Clare County Council by the head of the Clare Garda Division yesterday also revealed that drug detection had risen by 4.3 per cent.
The number of drink driving de- tections have also risen by 14.5 per cent, to 481, while 14 anti-social be- haviour orders (ASBQOs) have been served by gardai in Clare since the measure came into effect at the be-
ginning of the year.
So far this year, there have been 1,265 detections for public order which is up 28 per cent on the figure for the same period last year. Crime detection rates in Clare are 44 per Cone
Chief Supt Gerry Mahon said that criminals who travel from place to place are being targeted, in particular. ‘They come from Limerick, they come from Dublin, they come from Galway, they come from Eastern Europe. That’s the trend this year,” he said.
He said the spread of drugs is a live issue in Clare and is being closely as- sessed. ““That’s an issue we are look-
ing at closely. Crime and drugs are hand in hand. One causes the other,” he said.
He confirmed that CCTV will be installed on the streets of Ennis in April, while the initiative in Kilrush came into effect last year.
He also told councillors that addi- tional funding has been provided to fight organised crime under Opera- tion Anvil.
Additional resources have been pumped in to deal with road traffic accidents and the traffic corps has in- creased in personnel from 12 to 28.
A number of councillors expressed concern about the levels of Garda re-
sources, while others felt community policing was lacking in rural areas.
The drugs scourge was also men- tioned and Chief Supt Mahon reas- sured councillors that the newly ap- pointed detective inspector would address this issue as one of his first briefs.
Kevin Moynihan is the first garda ever to hold the rank of detective in- spector in Clare.
Responding to concerns raised by Clir Tony O’Brien (FF) about sparse Garda resources in Killaloe, the Garda chief said that an additional detective and five gardai had been appointed in that area.