Gangland victims asked for views on how Gardaí can tackle organised crime

Gangland Shootings. Gardai and forensic teams at the Scene where Noel Duggan was shot dead at Old Mill estate in Ratoath Co Meath last night. Photo: RollingNews.ie

The Garda Inspectorate is conducting its first ever national online public consultation to get the views of individuals and communities impacted by organised crime gangs.

It is the final part of what is said to be a “massive” research project which has already involved consultations with all Garda serious crime and intelligence units as well as several foreign police services and intelligence agencies.

The consultation – which may also involve face to face meetings with community groups – is set to close this September, with a draft report expected to be sent to Justice Minister Helen McEntee before the end of the year.

The threat posed by online transnational crime is expected to loom large in the research, given the sheer volume of fraud, money laundering, cybercrime and child abuse imagery that police services across the world are facing.

It is understood that all of the national garda units involved in tackling serious crime have been consulted as well as criminal intelligence units.

The inspectorate is hoping to get as broad a response as possible. They will check for geographical gaps in the responses and may actively try and elicit feedback.

The inspection, launched over a year ago, is into the “policing response to transnational organised crime” both nationally and in local communities.

The body is conscious of the successes gardaí have had in tackling organised crime – not least the Kinahan crime cartel – but hopes the public consultation will assist them in getting a picture of the impact locally.

This will include replacement gangs that have emerged to fill any voids, in addition to the impact on communities from open drug dealing and drug-related debt and intimidation.

Commenting on the consultation, Chief Inspector, Mark Toland said: “Individuals and communities across Ireland are affected by transnational organised crime which includes drug crime, human trafficking, people smuggling, labour exploitation, forced prostitution, cybercrime, organised fraud and money laundering.” He said the consultation had two parts: “The first is asking victims of or witnesses to Transnational Organised Crime to share their experiences and their perception of how the problem is being tackled.

“The second is seeking views from individuals in state bodies, non-government and civil society organisations, victim and community support organisations and academia who may have engaged with the Garda Síochána in relation to tackling various transnational organised crime types.” 

* See www.gsinsp.ie for more information.