Hike in number of children removed from family home for their safety

A 30% jump has been recorded in the number of cases where gardaí removed a child from the family home for their own safety.

A 30% jump has been recorded in the number of cases where gardaí removed a child from the family home for their own safety, official figures show.

Gardaí can only use this power where they form the belief there is an “immediate and serious risk” to the child if they remain at home.

A total of 1,240 such cases were recorded in 2022, compared to 943 in 2021 and 766 in 2017.

The Garda Annual Report said there was an average of 103 such cases per month last year, compared to 73 cases per month during 2019-2021.

Under section 12 of the Child Care Act, gardaí have the legal power to “take a child to safety” where they have reasonable grounds there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child.

The provision allows gardaí, if necessary, to enter homes without a court warrant and by force.

Violence in the home

The rising numbers, along with other figures in the report, appear to reflect increasing turmoil and violence affecting children in many homes.

The Garda report said almost 54,000 domestic abuse calls were made last year, compared to 49,500 in 2021.

In addition, some 220 calls were made to the Child Sexual Abuse Reporting phone line in 2022.

Forensic experts in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau examining digital devices identified nine children who were subject to sexual abuse and exploitation. With other gardaí, they were able to intervene and support those children.

The report shows that the number of section 12 cases rose gradually between 2017 and 2020, from 766 to 855, and then to 943 in 2021.

However, the number increased significantly (+31%) in 2022, to 1,240, which represented a 62% increase on 2017.

“The ISPCC is concerned to see such an increase in the use of section 12 powers by An Garda Síochána,” said ISPCC head of policy and public affairs Fiona Jennings.

“This could be for many reasons, but the result is removing children from their home for their own safety and seeking to place these children in emergency care if/until they are in a position to be returned home.”

Ms Jennings said such care placements were already under pressure.

“Where such suitable placements cannot be found, it is imperative that children are placed somewhere that meets their needs and upholds their rights, and that the relevant support services are engaged without delay.”

The report showed that, in addition to a 9% increase in domestic abuse calls received by gardaí, the number of domestic abuse-related charges brought in 2022 increased by 24%, from 9,065 in 2021 to 11,239 last year.

Fraud investigations

The report also documents a number of major international fraud investigations conducted by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau in 2022.

The cases include Operation Omena, which targets an organised crime gang using Irish accounts to launder money. To date, 12 foreign nationals have been arrested.

Operation Skein is a well-known investigation targeting an extensive criminal network, with almost 800 suspects, primarily money mules, countrywide. To date, more than 200 arrests have been made. Over €40m was stolen and laundered through Irish bank accounts.

The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation targeted a criminal who was making counterfeit smartphones and sending them to the genuine manufacturer for replacement.

The suspect earned over €10m from this and the Garda operation led to the seizure of 14 bank accounts, high-end designer goods, and luxury cars.

The report said armed support units were dispatched to 6,000 armed calls and over 80 hostage/barricade/suicide incidents.

The National Negotiation Unit responded to 112 incidents, including five Irish citizens abroad.

Some 370 refugees were security screened by the Special Detective Unit.