DRAFT figures seen by Northside People indicate a drop in crime rates in Ballymun and Finglas since last year.
According to draft figures compiled by the gardai, there has been a 35 per cent reduction in the number of burglaries, a 28 per cent drop in assaults causing harm as well as an 18 per cent decline in drug seizures.
Car and shop thefts were also down 32 per cent and 41 per cent respectively while public order offences in Ballymun were down a dramatic 68 per cent compared to 2011.
In Finglas, there has been a 20 per cent reduction in cases of criminal damages, a 58 per cent drop in assaults causing harm, a 27 per cent drop in robberies from people and 24 per cent reduction of burglaries compared to last year.
The draft figures were provided at a recent sitting of the Joint Policing Committee meeting.
Deputy John Lyons (Lab), who obtained the draft figures, welcomed the reduction in crime rates but warned that continued community engagement and vigilance is needed.
“Any crime or anti-social behaviour has huge negative impacts on individuals and can be destructive of community life,
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“These lower crime numbers in both Finglas and Ballymun are, however, encouraging for communities and credit must be given to the gardaà for their work in tackling crime.
“The new Garda roster, which puts more gardaà on at key times, may have had an impact on the reduction in crime figures.
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He added:
“I believe these reductions in crime rates also show the value of community policing where local residents engage with the gardaà in forums like Safer Ballymun and the Finglas Safety Forum, to build trust and working relationships.
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According to the draft figures, there has been a 31 per cent decrease in the number of drivers caught while under the influence in Ballymun.
The gardai continue to carry out regular inspections of licensed premises to target underage drinking and the illegal sale of alcohol to minors.
As such it was noted that the gardai in Ballymun are one of the leading agencies in the implementation of the Community Alcohol Strategy.
The gardai have also identified and focused on anti-social behaviour
‘hot-spots’ which are highly policed by members of the force on foot patrol and on mountain bikes.
Call back initiatives that have been put in place to provide victims of crime with crime prevention and security advice, were also said to be hugely successful.
According to the report compiled by Superintendent Paul Moran in Ballymun, investigations into major incidents such as murders are on going and there have been several successful operations as well as arrests.
Meanwhile, in Finglas, there has been an increase in the number of searches being carried out, particularly under the Misuse of Drugs Act. So far this year in Finglas, 2,548 searches have been carried out.
According to the report compiled by Chief Superintendent Declan Coburn, there were 399 Juvenile Referrals in the Finglas area so far this year.
Ten Adult Behaviour warnings and 28 Child Behaviour warnings were also served in the area over the same period.