Shatter calls on Criminal Assets Bureau to deal with rural crime

Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said the Criminal Assets Bureau has a greater role to play in dealing with criminal gangs involved in rural crime.

Up to 1,500 people attended a meeting on rural crime in Co Tipperary on Thursday night, calling for increased garda resources, stronger trespass laws and electronic tagging of convicted criminals.

Alan Shatter said while extra gardaí should be recruited as the public finances improve, the CAB should target assets accumulated by criminal gangs.

“The Criminal Assets Bureau has an enormous job to play in this area,” Mr Shatter said.

“I don’t know why, and I am not at the moment privy to what the particular focus of the Criminal Assets Bureau is, but the Criminal Assets Bureau, is uniquely placed to target gangs who have clearly accumulated a substantial amount of physical wealth and to take appropriate action against them and I believe that should happen."