Letter to the Editor: Cabinet must create crime prevention minister role

In view of increasing serious crime — murders, robbery with violence, stabbings and shootings — there is an urgent and pressing need for the Government to appoint a minister with special responsibilities 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.