Garda Commissioner targets 2% rise in detection rates

Newly installed Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy today set out his priorities for his first full year in charge targeting a modest 2% increase in detection rates.

The annual Garda Síochána policing plan predicts a similar drop in the crime rate and focuses on increased efforts to tackle organised crime, drug dealing and safeguarding national security.

An additional 1,200 Traffic Corps gardaí will be tasked with making the country’s roads safer and bringing about a dramatic 10% drop in fatal or serious road accidents.

Commissioner Murphy, who took up the role in November, said the focus was on state security, crime prevention and reduction, road safety and public order.

“I am committed to ensuring that the Garda Síochána is a professional, well-led and well-managed policing service grounded in human rights principles and committed to real engagement with community,” he said.

Organisational and structural changes brought in to modernise the force in the wake of the Morris Tribunal into garda corruption will also continue, the Commissioner added.

The aim is to have 5% recruitment from ethnic communities.

One of the main priorities of the 2008 Policing Plan is to reduce the number of offences by 2% while increasing detection levels by the same amount.

The target is expected to be met with another 15 senior investigative officers, more informers, more criminal assets profilers and a specialist crime analysis suite at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park.

Sex crime will be tackled with increased monitoring of sex offenders, including those coming from overseas, while an officer from Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Investigation Unit will liaise with COSC – the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and gender-based Violence.

Officers will also work more closely with Internet Service Providers to crack down on child pornography.

On road safety the target is to stop 10% more drunk or speeding drivers while cutting fatal and serious car crashes involving 17-26-year-olds also by 10%. By the end of the year 1,200 officers will be tasked to the Traffic Corps.

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan welcomed the plan and also efforts to enhance links between gardai and local authorities.

“I recently outlined the 2008 policing priorities for An Garda Síochána and highlighted the need to address gun crime, organised crime, drugs and public order,” Mr Lenihan said.

“These priorities show the focus of this Government in addressing these important areas of policing and crime prevention and detection, and they are backed up by the substantial resources which the Government is continuing to provide.”

The plan sets out a number of concrete targets for policing on the ground over the year ahead.

:: A 5% increase in detentions as a result of forensic tests and identification.

:: A 5% increase in Operation Anvil firearm prevention patrols.

:: A 5% increase in intelligence led operations against drug, gun and human trafficking gangs and street level drug dealers.

An Garda Síochána budget for this year runs to more than 1.6 billion euro - an 11% increase on last year.

The plan also proposes final arrangements are in place in the next six months for a nationwide DNA database while all groups or individuals posing a threat to national or international security are identified and profiled.

Gardaí will also be asked to identify all public order hotspots and cut assaults, criminal damage and disorder by 5%.