Politics of crime

I LAUGHED when I read Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s response to Fine Gael’s proposals to tackle crime in the context of the latest official figures.

The minister said “this Government’s policies on crime make sense”.

Well, if they do, why did recorded crime rise last year? Headline crime, including homicide, is on the increase, and the recent garda report proves it.

The minister’s attempts to fob off the figures by saying they are due to the rise in population is ridiculous.

Our population has increased significantly only in the past 10 years, and I doubt that the rise in crime is due to an unruly number of 10-year-olds.

Neither is there any evidence that it is due to an influx of foreign nationals.

Caitríona Fitzpatrick

Marble Hall Park

Douglas Road

Cork