A crime not to take action

In view of increasing serious crime there is an urgent and pressing need for the Government to appoint a minister with special responsibility for crime prevention.

There is little point in successive justice ministers offering loud commitments to reduce the spiralling crime rate when they accede to the continuing erosion of garda manpower levels, with retirement comprehensively outstripping recruitment.

And, with the situation already approaching crisis point in some urban centres, the next 12 months can only see a further deterioration of this serious problem.