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GARDAÍ PLAN ON targeting 200 of Ireland’s most prolific burglars in a new nationwide crackdown.
The details announced today at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park include a commitment for more resources to be deployed to garda units tasked with catching thieves.
With additional funding, Operation Thor will see an increase in recruiting, additions to the garda fleet, which will include a number of high-powered cars as well as undercover vehicles, as well as investment in ICT for gardaí and public awareness campaigns.
Uniformed patrols will be increased in burglary hotspots, which gardaí have identified through the PULSE system.
Speaking at the launch today Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said Operation Thor will carry on from the good work of Operation Fiachla, which resulted in 14,000 arrests and 5,000 charges.
High-powered cars for gardaí
She said the new garda fleet of high-powered cars, which were on display today, will be present on Ireland’s motorways, a network she said criminals are using to carry out burglaries.
Many of the new cars will be used by the regional support units, an armed unit of the force. Equipment, such as an MP7 sub-machine gun and a 9 mm calibre handgun are just some of the weapons they have with them every day.
Each member is also trained as a first responder. Many of the new high-powered vehicles will be modified to carry the unit’s weapons.
Not only are criminals carrying out thefts being targeted, but the commissioner said that through the Criminal Assets Bureau, the proceeds from their crimes will also be investigated.
The 200 culprits are part of a number of crime gangs which operate in a number of counties including Dublin, Cork, Sligo and Limerick.
Through data analysis, gardaí have identified burglary hotspots. Research has showed that victims of burglaries and the surrounding areas are likely to become repeat victims within five weeks.
Gardaí plan to use this information to ensure there is a higher garda presence in these areas.
Further data analysis over five or six years on PULSE system has identified that a relatively small number of criminals are responsible for a large cohort of the crimes. (22.7% of offenders carrying out 77% of burglaries.)
Speaking about the new crime prevention initiative Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the government is now able to give the gardaí the investment it needs. She said the increase in crime figures coincides with the Garda moratorium, which she said has now been lifted.
“We are in a new position now.”
Tougher sentences for criminals
She wants tougher sentences for repeat offenders.
The minister said she is also looking to expand tagging in new bail legislation which she is drafting as a priority.
“I consider burglary to be a very serious crime… I believe there is a place for a tagging provision at present. I am going to introduce further measures for offenders to be tagged in the new legislation on bail. I don’t believe it is a panacea, but it has a role in the system.”
“Prison is the place for serious and serial offenders,” she said.
The new bail legislation will mean reasons for bail being granted will have to be given by the courts and bail can be refused for repeat offenders who have more charges pending.
Minister Fitzgerald said technology was a critical part that needed to be improved. She said since this was identified in the Garda Inspectorate Report, progress has been made. She added that ICT improvements were “much needed”.
Today’s announcement comes in the face of damning crime figures, which reveal there has been a rise in burglaries in the last 12 months. There has been a particular surge in burglaries in Dublin, accounting for over 80% of the national increase.
Garda station closures
The Commissioner O’Sullivan said the initiative is about making sure there is a strong, visible presence of the gardaí around the country, but would not go so far as to say that the garda stations that were closed during the recession should be reopened.
“It’s not about bricks and mortar. It is actually to make sure we have the people to get out an engage with the community,” she said.
“We plan to put as many of them out of business as we possibly can.”
The commissioner said the northern border regions, which she said “throws up its own peculiarities” will fall under this operation. She said she hopes to see tangible results in the coming weeks and months.
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My lord is anything working in this place, the country needs a complete reshuffle from top to bottom… Department after department being run by people who quite honestly do not seem to have a clue what they are doing…
Year on year it gets worse, government depts seem to be systematically inept or ran by incompetent people with little or no over sight, but that’s normal, what isn’t is the general publics sudden amnesia come election time. You get what you voted for, every 4 years you get the chance. Cue the triggered FFG bootlickers….
@Epgenetics29 Declan Christy: it was a 10 day passport express thing pre covid. And will be again when the dust settles. You need to relax. Cue the shinners jackboot lickers.
@Epgenetics29 Declan Christy: a lot of the backlog is applications filled out incorrectly and therefore applications need to be re submitted
@Epgenetics29 Declan Christy: Why always the blame on public and civil servants? The people who do all the dirty work at the civil service are largely a dedicated and hard working work force (as hard as their private sector counterparts anyways). It’s the way things are managed and the way the government is run, and the amount of bureaucracy and red tape involved in changing absolutely anything, that has many services the way they are. Let me also remind you that civil servants have barely received a pay increase in the last ten years, yet inflation and the cost of living has been through the roof the last few years, a great way to retain talent.
@Tomo: the Health service has the biggest ever budget provided by the state. Yet the problems still persist, minister and governments come and go yet civil servants are still there so it doesn’t take a genius to figure out where the problems are.
@Paul Furey: the express bit is gone for starters!
@Patrick O Connell: No no no no no!!!!!!! This is not joe publics fault which is now the narrative.
The passport office is heavily unionised and was deemed non essential during the pandemic.
They decide when they have received your documentation, which leaves people in no man’s land.
Turn the whole process over to private sector.
3rd world country services
@John Johnes: ye because the passport service in Afghanistan is so much better ..
@Ciaran: I wonder is his also Munsterman?
@Ciaran: great comment
Nobody will get fired and all have their beautiful pensions.
Those kids should check their privilege :-)
You can checkout….but you can never leave.
Why didn’t they apply in time ,off on a fancy holiday.
@Betty O Sullivan: 4 months should be plenty of time for a first time passport and yet, here I am. Still waiting. Different answers from different agents all the time. Our photo was refused the first time because she was smiling. Imagine that lol. A 16 month old must have a neutral expression WHILE looking at the camera. It’s absolute NONSENSE.
@Betty O Sullivan: By the way, it isn’t a “FANCY” holiday for 95% of these people. I have scrimped and saved arse ways with my husband to be able to afford a holiday. These families have sacrificed and suffered enough over the last 2 years.
@Scarletrose: Fulling expecting an issue with my 3 week old babys photo. Next to Impossible to meet their out dated requirements especially where the Child is so young.
@Amanda Anderson: just make sure you get both ears in the photo and it’ll be good
have your say