Independent City Councillors tabling emergency motion calling for action on knife crime

Four independent inner-city councillors are tabling an emergency motion at tonight’s City Council meeting calling on the Minister for Justice to reintroduce and enact the legislative change proposed by Deputy Jim O’Callaghan to double the sentence for knife carrying/crime to 10 years and are also calling on the Minister immediately set up a task force on knife crime.

Cllr. Nial Ring said: “The impact of the recent knife attacks on our streets cannot be underestimated.

“People are literally living in fear and looking to the authorities for action.

“The four independent councillors in the Central Area are now, through this motion, calling for this action and the Minister must answer this call”

“Jim O’Callaghan’s proposed legislation, if enacted, will send out a powerful signal that knife crime will not be tolerated ” he added.

“The immediate setting up of a task force is also essential and its remit and scope must include all the stakeholder we have identified.

“Its report must include possible solutions/recommendations/proposals that include the obvious requirement to increase Garda resources needed to tackle this specific issue.

“It should also examine the need to fund knife awareness and education programmes, acknowledge and address the link between knife carrying/use and drug use/intimidation, address victim impact and finally detail ways to quickly implement any and all deterrents to knife carrying/use which the task force may recommend” he concluded.

Cllr Cieran Perry added: “Legislation is one part of the jigsaw in tackling this scourge but ultimately we need buy-in from the affected communities and in particular, the young people in the areas.

“The four Independent councillors intend to spearhead a ground-up initiative to highlight the knife risk to our youth”.

Cllr. Christy Burke has requested an immediate meeting with senior Gardaí as well as senior officials from the Department of Justice to discuss the issue.

“A meeting with Senior Gardaí is essential as we need to know what policing response is in place and what additional resources are needed to equip the Gardaí to effectively deal with this problem,” Cllr Burke said.

“If there are any barriers to tackling this problem we need to know what they are and what is needed to remove them.”

Cllr. Anthony Flynn concluded: “We have had an alarming increase in knife crime within the North Inner City over the last number of months.

“What is required is an increase in visual police presence, active community policing and engagement with young people.

“A young man has lost his life and this must be taken seriously.

“The reintroduction of Jim O’Callaghan’s private member’s bill will be the first step in reassuring the city that knife crime will be taken seriously.”