Gardaí arrest almost 1,000 in burglary crackdown

Almost a thousand suspects are facing charges after the first phase of a Garda crackdown on burglaries.

A total of 1,700 people have been arrested since the operation began in April, the first five months of 'Operation Fiacla'.

The first details of the operation show 1,729 people have been arrested as part of burglary-related investigations, and of those, 982 people have been charged.

The Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said that although the incidence of most crime types has fallen across the country in recent years, the number of burglaries has been on the rise.

Mr Shatter said today's figures show this particular type of crime is being prioritised by the Garda Commissioner.

He also said substantial progress is being made, and the Gardaí should be praised for that.