McDowell unfazed by unreported crimes

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell said last night he is not surprised one in five crimes are not reported to gardaí.

A new TNS/MRBI survey carried out for Fine Gael showed a further one in three victims of crime under 25 years of age wouldn’t report incidents.

And even more students, 43%, don’t tell gardaí about crimes committed against them.

The findings show 15% of adults, or 430,0000 people, have been the victims of crime in the last two years.

Mr McDowell said: “It is an accepted fact in western democracies that many crimes go unreported.”

Mr McDowell defended the official figures, though, saying they accurately reflect crime trends.

“Governments and An Garda Síochána have always stated that these statistics do not include every crime committed during a particular year,” he said.

“However, no one would dispute the veracity of the drop in murders of 12%, manslaughter of 14% and serious assaults of 21% for the year 2003 compared to 2002.”

Fine Gael Justice spokesman John Deasy said the survey shows a ‘black hole’ in official figures.

Mr Deasy said: “The survey confirms earlier surveys that revealed a disappointing, and falling, level of confidence in the Gardaí, particularly among young people.”

Fine Gael wants gardaí to work closer with communities to ensure every crime is reported and investigated.

Mr Deasy said members of local authorities should sit on the police boards proposed in the Garda Síochána Bill.

“Local authorities can play a crucial role by bringing senior gardaí and communities together to create a sense of co-operation and ownership of the problem,” Mr Deasy said.

The party also wants police board meetings to be open to the public.

“Real accountability will only be achieved if these meetings between gardaí and public representatives are fully open to the public with full access provided to the media,” Mr Deasy said.

The Department of Justice has confirmed the first national crime victimisation survey will be carried out this year.

The Dept’s expert group on crime statistics, established 18 months ago, will issue a report next month. The group will make recommendations on how statistics are gathered.