Noonan gets tough on urban crime in Limerick

FORMER Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan is overseeing one of the most comprehensive surveys on urban crime ever in this country to help draw up new policies.

Mr Noonan, who was Justice Minister from 1982 to 1986, has embarked on a massive anti-crime initiative based on the experiences of people in his Limerick constituency.

He has sent out 20,000 questionnaires to homes in Limerick city and he said the results would help Fine Gael with its new law and order policy document.

Mr Noonan said: “I don’t known of any other survey of this magnitude.”

His survey, however, will not focus on Limerick’s gangland crime.

“We are looking at the most common urban crimes such as burglaries, assaults and anti-social behaviour, which are common to all urban parts of the county.

“While there is concern at Limerick’s gangland situation, people feel it is under control, but in getting it under control, other forms of crime in suburban estates have become too common.

“At public meetings I have been attending, people have been forcibly demanding solutions and that is where this survey is coming from,” he added.

Mr Noonan’s survey leaflets contain 40 questions.

A selection include:

* Should garda patrols be on foot or in squad cars?

* When did you last see guards on foot in your neighbourhood?

* Should the wearing of hoods and helmets be banned in shops and shopping centres?

* Do you have confidence in the ability of the courts to combat crime?

Mr Noonan said he expects a 5% return (1,000) and already this is ahead of target, with 400 responses since the weekend when the leaflets were distributed.

“Most surveys work on the basis of a 3% return from a far smaller sample base. I don’t know of any survey ever carried out on crime on this scale.

“When we carry out polls in constituencies about the strength of various candidates we operate on the basis of a sample of 200 people. MRBI polls take a sample of about 350 people. National opinion polls can have samples of a few hundred up to 1,000.

“But we have polled 20,000 at a local level in this survey.

“It should reflect national opinion as it is dealing with the kind of crime common to all parts of the country,” said Mr Noonan.

He will submit a report on the findings to Fine Gael Justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe.

“This Limerick survey, which can be applied to any urban area, will help influence crime and law and order policies of the alternative government going into the next election,” said Mr Noonan.

He said he was pleased with the initial return.

“As well as answering the 40 questions, some people have written in additional comments,” he said.

Mr Noonan has a team of constituency workers to help collate the information from the survey.

“We will start this work in about two weeks, when we will have all the responses we can expect to get.

“I will then prepare a report for Jim O’Keeffe, which I think will be very helpful,” said Mr Noonan.

He added he had decided on the survey after attending various community and public meetings.

“There is huge concern everywhere about crime and anti-social behaviour and that is the feedback I have been getting,” he said.