Tag Archives: Joint Policing Committee

THE reopening of society has contributed to a surge in reported crime in Clare, the joint policing committee heard this week. Among the headline figures were a 90% increase in burglaries; a 105% increase in thefts from shops; a 59% increase in detections of drink/drug driving and a 34% increase in domestic disputes. At this week’s meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee, Chief Superintendent Sean Colleran said that there have been dramatic increases in some categories of crime in the early part of 2022 compared to 2021. He added however that that was down to the relaxation of Covid restrictions, and the figures are not significantly worse than pre-pandemic. Clare’s most senior garda gave a presentation to the meeting which showed that in the January to April period of last year Clare had just 29 burglaries, but the figure was 55 for the same period of 2022, a rise of 90%. Thefts from shops increased from 55 in the …

SCAM and fraud prevention are top of the policing agenda, Clare’s most senior Garda has pledged.  Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran made that commitment after telling the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) that incidents of fraud and economic crime have more than doubled in recent times. Figures released by the Chief show an increase of 110% in such crimes over the three months from November to January, when compared to the same period last year.  The revelation coincided with a letter to the JPC from Clare Older People’s Council who raised concerns about a spate of scam calls. JPC administrator Karen Fennessy said the organisation was looking for advice from Gardaí and that the calls were causing “great stress and upset”.  Superintendent John Galvin agreed the problem is widespread and he appealed to people not to open suspicious text messages in particular. “We are looking into all aspects of this issue,’ he said. “It’s a national and international problem. A lot of …

FARMERS in North Clare are being “terrorised” on their own lands and a Garda Inspector has been assigned to look into the issue.  Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was told, at its quarterly meeting, that a proactive response is needed from Gardaí, after the issue was raised by two Dáil deputies. The matter was highlighted by Deputy Cathal Crowe who handed over a number of registration numbers to the Chief Superintendent.  “There’s a group of farmers in the Liscannor area who are being terrorised at the moment,” he said. “Very frequently, people come onto their land with shotguns, hunting for rabbits and foxes, and, as a farmer is entitled to, they approach them to clear them, only to be told the gun will be used on them. This is happening repeatedly. “It’s one thing to be terrorised on the streets, but to be terrorised on your own property is an entirely different thing. So, they work together and they’re in …

SHOCK has been expressed over a spike in Clare in breachers of domestic violence orders, over the course of 2020, as well as an increase of reported incidents of abuse within the home. Figures presented to Clare’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC) this week show that there were 89 breaches of barring, safety and protection orders last year. This compares with 72 such incidents in 2019, and represents a rise of 24%. Commenting on the figures, Deputy Violet Anne Wynne, a member of the JPC, said the pandemic seemed to have created a situation whereby some people felt they had the opportunity to breach orders issued by the courts. “We need to increase the visibility of Gardaí in order to deter these people,” the Sinn Féin representative said. “The marked increase in crimes connected to domestic violence is quite shocking and in contrast to the decrease seen in other kinds of offences. When it comes to crime during the pandemic, we …

CLARE’S Green Senator has shared her experience of trying to help a woman who was experiencing suicidal feelings during the lockdown earlier this year. Speaking at the meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Senator Róisín Garvey said she was concerned for the woman, as well as the time it took to access emergency support services. She called for more detailed figures to be made available to members on the number of mental health issues Gardaí had responded to. “There has been an increase in the number of people experiencing mental health crises because of Covid-19,” she native said. “I met a woman who was suicidal and after speaking to hear for an hour, I phoned the Gardaí. I rang one of those stations that we have spent a lot of money on. The Garda couldn’t come out for 40 minutes and after that, the woman was seen by a GP. I found the whole situation deeply disturbing.” Senator Garvey …

THE level of antagonism that Clare gardaí face when they are called to domestic incidents “often beggars belief”, according to Chief Superintendent John Kerin. His comment came at a public meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) on Monday, which was adjourned for 15 minutes as a mark of respect to Garda Anthony Golden, who was shot dead after responding to such an incident in Louth, as well as those who died in the Carrickmines tragedy. Speaking about the uncertainty that gardaí have to face on a daily basis, Chief Superintendent Kerin reflected, “We don’t know at any given time what awaits us.” He also said the gardaí have to deal with people who are at their most volatile, at times when they may have drink taken or something has happened domestically. During the meeting, it was revealed that Clare gardaí have responded to 302 domestic disputes in the first nine months of the year and Superintendent Kerin said …

THE head of the Clare Garda Division has said new legislation that aims to apply consecutive prison terms on repeat burglars should have a positive impact and make communities safer. Chief Superintendent John Kerin, who in recent months called for consecutive sentences for persistent burglars, said he welcomed any legislation that would assist them in taking “recidivist criminals, especially burglars, off the streets”. In recent weeks there have been a plethora of burglaries in the Cratloe area, while gardaí in North Clare are investigating a series of burglaries that occurred in Bellharbour, Ballyvaughan, Tubber and Crusheen during the last two weeks. There are two main provisions in the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, with the first aimed at imposing consecutive jail terms on burglars who have previous burglary convictions. The second part of the bill contains an amendment of the bail laws to enable judges to refuse a bail application to anyone facing multiple charges and with previous convictions. …

“THEY’RE not going home to shave their legs and they’re not making omelettes”, was the message of one councillor to Ennis business people as she urged that them not to sell eggs and shaving foam to youngsters during events such as St Patrick’s Day. Councillor Mary Howard at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council called on the local authority in association with other agencies such as An Garda Siochana, traders, Ennis Chamber and schools to devise a “code of conduct”. She outlined that this should deal with identifiable perennial events, “particularly antisocial behaviour on certain days by young teenagers”, on days to include St Patrick’s Day, the last day of school and festivals. She stated that there is a problem with antisocial behaviour among young people in the town on certain days of the year. And she said that she was told on St Patrick’s Day from 12 and 13 year olds that it was “too scary” in town …