Car Tourismo Banner
Home » News » JPC: Cannabis cultivation a growing problem

JPC: Cannabis cultivation a growing problem


Drugs cultivation, beach bylaws and thefts from tourist spots were the topics of conversation at the Joint Policing Committee meeting on Monday. Carol Byrne reports

Clare’s crime statistics have seen a jump in drug offences in the past six months, with drug detection offences increasing by a total of 50 crimes for the period and part of this has been attributed to people cultivating their own cannabis plants.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Clare’s Chief Superintendent, John Kerin said of the 11 broad categories of crime, eight have decreased by a total of 144 crimes, with one increase in drug related crime, which rose by 50 crimes. The other broad categories remain at the same levels as in 2012.

“Given the significant reduction in crime since 2008, these figures are satisfactory. While I always maintain one crime is one too many, the crimes relating to drug detection is reflective of the drug enforcement and the work of the drugs unit in Clare. The most significant controlled drug offence that we have, and it is reflective of the national trend, is people cultivating in their own houses. It’s a new phenomenon; more and more people are cultivating their own cannabis plants, and we have made significant detections in that area throughout the year,” he said.

He also noted that it was welcome news that there were 15 less people caught for driving over the limit of alcohol compared with the same period last year. This was in contrast to an increase of six detections for drug driving, which had jumped from four instances last year to 10 in the first six months of this year.

“Drug-driving incidents have risen. I think that is something we’re seeing as new legislation has been passed. People who are smoking cannabis don’t realise that the drug stays in your system a lot longer than alcohol from when it is taken. People are reminded that it is a mandatory four-year disqualification for those caught drug-driving,” he said.

 

About News Editor

Check Also

Kilkee mother thanks people of Clare for helping to save Tadhg

NEW Zealand boy who made an appeal through The Clare Champion for help in bringing …