Statistics show worrying increase in local crime 

Callum Lavery  

STATISTICS released by the Fingal Joint Policing Committee (JPC) show a serious increase in crimes such as assault, public order offences, robbery, domestic violence and incidents of domestic dispute in Fingal.

Figures were based on the period between January 1 and October 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. 

There were 181 incidents of public order offences in 2018, a 37 percent increase on the same period last year. Similarly, there was a 50 percent rise in robbery offences with mobile phone theft accounting for one in five of these cases.

There were 35 incidents of assault causing harm, a 30 percent increase from last year with 16 of these cases involving a “domestic violence motive.”

Most shockingly, domestic violence was among the most notable increases with 300 cases taking place in 2018, a 219 percent rise. 

However, gardaí in the area have been praised as 'Possession of Drugs for Sale' saw a detection rate of 57 percent, ‘Possession of Drugs for Personal Use’ had a detection rate of 75 percent and 'Offensive Weapon' had a detection rate of 81 percent despite limited resources. 

Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF) blamed the spike in violent crime on the low number of gardaí in the area, and criticised the lack of assistance given to local gardaí. 

“Garda numbers are down 20 percent in the past eight years while the population in the area is growing,” said Deputy O’Brien.   

“We are the youngest county (Fingal) in Ireland firstly and we are the fastest growing. 

“My colleagues and I are pushing very hard to set up a campaign to insist on getting proper resources for our gardaí because they are basically trying to do their job with one hand tied behind their back.

“We have a new superintendent in Balbriggan, who has responded already to some of the violent crime by setting up a rural crime unit. 

“But our superintendents in Coolock and Balbriggan need more resources and that is what I’m fighting for.”

Deputy O’Brien added: “It’s just not acceptable and we are seeing now the impact of the lack of resources with more violent crime both detected and undetected.”

Despite an overall increase in crimes in the area, the report also found a reduction in areas such as aggravated burglary, robbery from establishments and ‘theft from persons.’

Earlier this month, Northside People reported that Dublin Fingal TD Alan Farrell (FG) received confirmation from Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran that the procurement process for work to reopen Rush Garda Station will now commence.

“Minister Moran has informed me that An Garda Síochána has provided the final sign-off on the revised layout plans for Rush Garda Station which incorporated the revisions requested by An Garda Síochána following an on-site meeting in December,” said Deputy Farrell at the time.

“As a result of this, works to reopen the station to serve Rush and the surrounding community can now move forward.

“The reopening of Rush Garda Station will be greatly beneficial to the local community and I am pleased that progress is being made in this regard.”

Deputy Farrell said it is vital that Rush and every community in the north county is provided with the policing facilities and resources they require. 

“It is of the utmost importance that local residents can feel safe in their own homes and on their local streets,” he added. 

“The reopening of Rush Garda Station will certainly be positive in this regard.”

As part of Government cutbacks during the recession, Rush Garda Station was closed down in early 2012 causing a serious void in policing in the area.

Since then there have been numerous calls from local residents, residents’ associations and public representatives to have the station reopened as a matter of urgency.