Crime victims left in dark

HUNDREDS of crime victims have revealed how they were left in the dark by not being told about the progress of an investigation or not being contacted at all by gardaí after making an initial complaint.

Half of all victims responding to the most comprehensive attitudes survey ever compiled about the Garda said they were not kept informed about the progress of a case, while a similar number were not contacted at all.

The survey of more than 10,000 people revealed nearly 90% were satisfied with the job gardaí are doing, a rating welcomed by Garda HQ, the Justice Minister, representative bodies and a leading victims' group.

One in eight people - more than 1,000 - had been a victim of crime, a third of them suffered a burglary, 20% criminal damage to a car and 13% physically assaulted. Of those, 84% reported the crime.

Victim Support has reacted strongly to the results. Spokeswoman Ann Meade said: "We have always been aware of how important it is for the victims to be kept informed.

"Our system relies on victims reporting crime, so one would expect they in turn would receive information about its progress, even to the extent that there may be nothing to report. Victims feel quite upset if a guard does not keep in touch."

The group's chief executive Lillian McGovern expressed alarm that only 4% of victims were informed about Victim Support when they reported a crime.

"Of the 1,250 respondents that were victimised by crime, it seems unbelievable only 63 individuals were provided with further information on Victim Support,." Ms McGovern said.

Garda Superintendent John Farrelly said: "This is a view that has been highlighted to us and we have put into place systems to contact victims of crime. It may not have filtered through to the whole organisation but we are aware of the need to keep victims informed of the progress of the investigation.

"The point of the survey is not just to elicit good news, the point is to find out what people think. We will take action in relation to the deficiencies, even though we would be happy with certain results."

Justice Minister Michael McDowell, however, cautioned that the establishment of an independent Garda Inspectorate would add openness and transparency to the force, two elements necessary to maintain and build on the high level of public confidence.

He claimed the findings were fully in line with the government's approach towards offending.

"We must tackle the causes of crime...we must ensure that all aspects of criminal law are adequate to combat crime...and ensure sufficient resources are available to the criminal justice system."

Austin Kenny, spokesman for the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, welcomed the survey.

"It bears out our own feelings about the level of satisfaction felt by the community towards the gardaí," he said.