'Fagin’s Law' offences by adults to groom children into criminality 'difficult to prove', review finds

Gardaí said that less than 10 charges/summonses have been issued under the (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024

The Greentown Programme, which works in local areas aiming to disrupt the influence of criminal networks on children, said the law has increased awareness around grooming and criminal behaviour. File picture

New offences to prevent children being groomed into criminality are “difficult to prove” and there is uncertainty over the law's “operational effectiveness”, a review has found.

A post-enactment report from the Department of Justice into the Criminal Justice (Engagement of Children in Criminal Activity) Act 2024 said that a “small number of offences” under the act have been brought before the court since it was enacted.