McDowell gets tough as crime out of control

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell is to introduce a series of tough laws later this year as crime rates soar out of control.

The minister also pledged to commence a root-and-branch reform of the Garda Síochána to make them more accountable and improve their performance.

The new laws will give increased powers to gardaí to obtain search warrants, gather evidence and obtain DNA samples. These measures follow the release of shocking crime figures for last year, which show gardaí are losing the fight against serious crime.

It found crime rates were soaring, with assaults up 93%, sexual offences up 83%, drugs offences up 33% and murder up 33%.

Opposition parties said the figures showed the Government was presiding over the most disastrous days of violence ever seen in the country.

Fine Gael’s Olivia Mitchell said: “There is increasing anger and frustration among the public who are being terrorised on a nightly basis. The Government still has no coherent policy to fight crime.”

Labour’s Pat Rabbitte accused the Government of withholding the figures and said spending cutbacks meant the gardaí would continue to lose the battle against crime.

But the Government insisted the promised appointment of 2,000 extra gardaí would go ahead.

Mr McDowell said he would begin examining proposals to toughen up criminal law to ensure it was strong enough to combat offenders and protect the public. “These are very serious figures and they deserve a very serious response,” he said. “I’ll be looking at every aspect of our criminal law system to see exactly what needs to be addressed.”

Plans to reform the Garda Síochána, to be finalised early next year, will allow the minister to draw up policy targets the force will have to meet. The minister said measures to reform the force were not in response to the crime figures but were part of plans to shake up the operation of the garda.

A judicial commission will also be appointed to review sentencing policy across a whole range of areas to ensure penalties for crimes are consistent.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said it was not surprised at the 83% increase in sexual assaults. These figures include a 42% increase in the number of recorded rapes.

The centre’s director of clinical services, Geraldine Connolly, said: “There are more out there, just 10% of women are reporting sexual assaults. More must be done to support these women.”