This article is from page 6 of the 2006-12-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE significant increase in burglaries and theft in Clare this year is partly attributed to the growing number of people taking heroin.
That’s the view of Acting Chief Superintendent John Kerin who said that the growing number of people using heroin and cocaine in Clare was a particular source of concern.
He confirmed that arrests for people selling drugs this year is up to 46 from 26 last year – an increase of 77 per cent.
Supt Kerin said that people don’t appreciate what a drug-related conviction will do to their prospects of securing a visa for the US or Australia or securing a job in the public sector.
“We believe that if we control our drugs trade, we control our crime and if we don’t control it, more and more young people become involved in it.”
He also expressed concern that that younger offenders are getting involved in public order incidents where there is a lack of respect for anyone in authority. He cited an incident last weekend in Ennis when Gardaí gave chase to two youths and, when they came back, found their patrol car had been broken into although they were only gone two minutes.
“We got one person and the other is being interviewed today. There is that kind of breakdown with young people and the biggest problem would be drink – and drugs – related.”
Giving a commitment for larger numbers of Gardaí policing rural areas, he said that if they got additional resources, they would be deployed to rural areas where people want to see more Gardaí.
Supt Kerin said that additional Garda resources have been assigned to Lahinch, Miltown Malbay, Sixmilebridge and Tulla.