Call to tighten laws on crime gang activity

THE Government should consider making organised criminal activity a new offence, an Oireachtas report will recommend today. But the report is not expected to back proposals to make membership of a criminal gang an offence.

The Oireachtas Justice Committee’s Review of the Criminal Justice System follows extensive consultation with a wide range of professions, experts and representative bodies.

While it comes down in favour of making the activities of an organised criminal group a specific offence, it says there are serious legal difficulties in making membership of an organised gang an offence.