Anti-crime measures – Welcome, but timing a bit suspect

TOUGH new measures to combat crime, unveiled yesterday by Justice Minister Michael McDowell, will be welcomed up and down the country, especially in communities troubled by the upsurge in violence.

Expected to come into force before Easter, the legislation will spark one of the biggest reforms of the criminal justice system seen in decades.

Effectively, the Tánaiste is targeting issues which have been causing considerable unease in the public mind as gangland crime spirals out of control.

In future, for instance, bail can be refused on the word of a senior garda.

In a bid to combat so-called “tiger kidnappings,” the new law will allow detention for up to seven days.

That will also apply to murder suspects who use a firearm or when a firearm is used with intent to endanger life.

While the broad thrust of this no-nonsense approach to gangland crime has been known for some time, the crackdown on drug trafficking and firearms is clearly timed to give impetus to the Coalition’s election campaign and also enhance the waning fortunes of the PDs.