Crime and inequality

THE statement by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern that the 43% cutback in the Equality Authority’s budget is to be redirected towards fighting crime shows he fails to realise any connection between inequality in our social economy and crime.

Our prisons have a disproportionate number of people from poorer backgrounds and anyone who fails to see a sociological connection between both should not hold ministerial office. The so-called fight against crime must begin by tackling its institutional causes and not the symptoms.

Brendan Butler