This article is from page 12 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
A SENIOR Clare Garda has said he expects the Criminal Assets Bureau to make a significant move on criminal gangs in Clare within the next year.
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council, where Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division Liam Quinn delivered a comprehensive overview of policing in Clare, Superintendent John Kerin said that he was confident that CAB would deal a major blow to criminal activity in Clare.
Responding to questions concerning the measures in place to deal with criminal activity Mr Kerin said, “Within the next 12 months, there would be very significant movement by the Criminal Assets Bureau” on criminals within Clare, but we need the help of the public and we would be keen to extend our drug education programmes to more schools.”
On the issue of increased resources for the Divisional Drug Squad Superintendent Kerin said that current staffing levels were adequate for the force to operate effectively, but that extra resources would be welcome
Earlier, Clare’s most senior Garda said the introduction of tough new Anti-Social Behaviour Orders would serve as an effective deterrent to crime in the county. Although saying he was reluctant to comment on matters which were still to be enacted into legislation, Chief Superintendent Quinn said that fear in communities and the broad groundswell of support for the measures would be welcomed.
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders form part of the proposed new Criminal Justice Bill which is due to pass before the Houses of Oidreachta later this year.
Responding to queries from Councillor’s requesting his views on a wide variety of policing issues Mr Quinn said if adopted the measures would be useful.
“Normally, in matters to do with policies such as this, we tend to keep our noses out as they can get chopped off. There is fear in communities out there. I have worked in communities where fear is a very real situation and it is terrible. If and when the Minister does enact legislation we will make use of it straight away and there does seem to be a huge public support for it”
When pressed over his views on the formation of the controversial Garda Reserve Association (GRA) Mr Quinn said that in line with recent comments by the Association of Chief Superintendents he was not opposed to the proposal.
“There is a need for more resources. In so far as what the idea might be, I would like to see a Garda presence in every town but unfortunately that is few and far between.”
Cllr Jerry Flynn had earlier expressed his disappointment that Shannon was not to be considered a divisional Garda station while Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) echoed the calls of many councillors that more resources should be provided for isolated rural areas to deal with the growing problem of drug abuse.
Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said that more policeman were needed on the street and Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) said drug problems had to be dealt with through cross body initiatives.
Mr Quinn expressed his frustration over the delay in the roll-out of essential CCTV services in Ennis.