Alcohol fuels 210 crimes every day
A total of 118,000 offences were detected within that 18-month period by gardaí under Operation Encounter. However, the trend is downwards with almost 20% fewer offences between February and August 2003, compared with the same period in 2002.
"The number of overall offences is colossal, but the reduction is welcome. Operation Encounter is taking effect," said garda spokesman Superintendent John Farrelly. "But the reduction is from a very, very high level. There's still a huge amount of public disorder out there."
