63% rise in outstanding warrants
Figures published by Justice Minister Alan Shatter shows 24,645 warrants were unexecuted in 2011, compared to 15,152 in 2010.
The annual figure has spiralled each year over the last decade, from 1,142 in 2000. The figure breached 10,000 in 2007 and has continued to grow since.
Mr Shatter has previously said there were 124,209 outstanding warrants accumulated over the years. This included 31,134 bench (or arrest) warrants, 3,492 committal (jail) warrants, and 89,583 penal (payment) warrants.
In the Dáil last week, Mr Shatter gave a detailed breakdown of the figures, including over the last decade and broken down by garda division. Divisions with the highest number of warrants are:
* Dublin North Central — 24,148.
* Dublin South — 14,425.
* Dublin West — 13,903.
* Dublin North — 11,100.
* Cork City — 7,099.
* Galway — 5,932.
* Kildare — 5,132.
* Meath — 4,102.
Responding to Dáil question by Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Dara Calleary, Mr Shatter said the vast majority of warrants did not relate to violence or other serious categories.
He pointed out most were penal warrants which relate to the payment of fines with imprisonment arising as a consequence of failure to pay. He said most of these warrants were associated with road traffic offences, public order and theft offences. He said the Garda Commissioner had told him gardaí give priority to the execution of warrants in respect of serious crime.
Mr Shatter said he was concerned the total number of outstanding warrants may not be a “reliable indicator” of the number of live warrants which are enforceable.
He said he had asked the commissioner to come back to him in six months over changes in the way the statistics are kept.
