Requests for help in solving foreign crimes double

FOREIGN countries almost doubled their requests to Ireland for help solving criminal cases last year, including serious crimes like murder, rape and drug trafficking.

Tue, 17 Mar, 2009 - 00:00

Requests for information and legal assistance, as well as help from gardaí, were also sought in investigations involving child rape, human trafficking and terrorism cases.

Britain topped the list for countries seeking assistance, followed by Bulgaria, Germany and Spain.

Figures show a massive rise in international requests for criminal records (+198%), followed by assistance in the serving of summons, witness orders and other documents (61%).

There was also an increase in foreign requests for the taking of evidence, searches, confiscations and the interviews of suspects and witnesses in Ireland.

Last night, the Department of Justice could not say why Ireland had seen such a big increase in requests for help in foreign criminal investigations.

In a statement, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern said the country was playing its part in the fight against crime.

“As a nation we take very seriously our international obligations and these figures show we do everything we can to provide assistance where it is sought,” it said.

The biggest areas where help was sought by foreign countries included in cases relating to road and transport, followed by theft.

There were fewer requests for assistance in cases involving more serious crime.

Statistics from the Central Authority for Mutual Assistance show requests rose by 57% in total in 2008 amounting to 1,065 compared with 675 the previous year.

Separately, Ireland sought assistance from other countries completing its own investigations and cases.

Requests were made in relation to serious offences such as murder, rape/sexual assault, drug trafficking and fraud. Britain received the most Irish requests, followed by Poland and the United States.

Main countries

The top 10 countries that sought help:

Britain ...................... 577

Bulgaria....................... 55

Germany..................... 54

Spain........................... 46

Portugal...................... 45

Hungary...................... 40

Poland......................... 31

France......................... 25

Netherlands................ 24

Czech Republic........... 19