This article is from page 3 of the 2011-10-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
NEW figures indicate that the number of assaults, drug seizures and incidents of arson are down in Ennis for the year so far.
There were 23 incidents of assault causing harm in the first nine months of the year, compared to 25 for the same period in 2010.
Minor assaults are down from 81 in 2010 to 63 in 2011.
The number of on-street drug searches that took place in the first nine months of 2011 stood at 278, compared to 316 for the same period last year.
The figures were presented at yesterday’s public meeting of the Ennis Joint Policing Committee.
Supt Peter Duff of the Ennis Garda District told the meeting that criminal damage caused by fire had fallen from 27 (2010) to 13 (2011).
The report compared recorded incidents of crime in Ennis from January to September (2011) with the same period in 2010.
Arrests for drugs for sale or supply are down from 46 (2010) to 35 (2011) while the number of people caught in possession of drugs has reduced by almost 50 per cent (131 to 66).
Public order offences have fallen from 406 (2010) to 395 (2011) while robbery of persons fell from 10 (2010) to two (2011).
In relation to drug searches carried out under warrant, the figures show a reduction from 151 to 84.
Supt Duff told the meeting that a cannabis growhouse had been de- tected on the outskirts of Ennis during the summer.
He said a quantity of mephedrone had also been seized in Ennis earlier this year, a discovery that led gardai to conduct a follow-up search of premises in Lissycasey.
He said that both matters are now before the courts.
There was also a small reduction in the number of incidents of sexual offences recorded by gardaí (27 to 21).
Supt Duff said many of the cases are historic in nature and relate to alleged offences that took place in the 1960s and ‘70s.
He said people are now more confident about reporting sexual offences that occurred in family or institutional settings.
The meeting was attended by local councillors, council officials and community representatives.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) expressed concern that apart from representatives of Ennis Chamber, no members of the public were in attendance.