Ahern calls for greater EU cooperation to combat criminal gangs

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern today called for greater European-wide control of firearms and exchange of data and information to combat crime gangs.

Speaking at a European Union summit on gang crime in Stockholm, Minister Ahern said greater co-operation among member states would assist greatly in tackling the growing threat of organised gangs.

"Police and customs cooperation must be improved to take on the fight against organised crime and terrorism," the minister said.

"It is vital that EU law enforcement services can share information speedily and that cross-border systems are linked and compatible. We do have appropriate data constraints in place but we can’t allow our police and customs officers to operate with one hand tied behind their back.”