Westport crime warning
Crime figures
Claire Egan
claireegan@mayonews.ie
A STRONG warning has been issued by Westport’s Garda superintendent that drink-driving and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
Speaking to The Mayo News, Superintendent Pat Doyle said that the public are still failing to take note of the strong messages warning against drinking and driving. He also urged parents to monitor the activities their children are involved in, and advised that they be particularly vigilant for underage drinking.
To date in 2007, provisional crime figures for the Westport region have detected 27 cases of drink-driving, the majority of which were first time offenders. This year’s figure is almost on a par with the first five months of 2006, in which 33 cases were detected. A total of 90 cases were recorded for the whole year.
“We would have expected that the public are taking note of the messages and campaigns against drinking and driving but, obviously from the figures, it would appear that that is not the case. There has been a concerted effort to date to combat drinking and driving and this effort will continue to be intensified through traffic check-points and mandatory breath testing. It will not be tolerated and every effort will be made on this,” said Supt Doyle.
Greater attention also needs to be paid by foreign nationals to road traffic legislation, as figures from Westport Garda Station and Traffic Corps detect a rise in the numbers of foreign nationals detected for road traffic offences.
Plans are also in place to clamp down on acts of anti-social behaviour with parents urged to take a more active role in monitoring the activities of their children. To date, 56 public order offences, ranging from threatening and abusive behaviour to intoxication in a public place, have been recorded this year. There have also been 53 referrals of minors to the Juvenile Diversion Programme.
Gardaí confirmed that a number of operations have been in place to detect underage drinking, with 29 cases recorded so far.
“The anti-social behaviour and the public order offences are ‘home-grown’ problems. There is a myth that because of the rise in numbers in Westport at the weekend, that public order offences are due to visitors coming into the town. However, this is not the case as the majority of offences committed are down to locals. We have carried out operations to guard against underage drinking as we have had problems with this. We are urging parents to take a greater note of what their children are doing and what kind of activities they are involved in. Westport is a place that people love to visit and it is our intention to preserve that reputation and ensure that it remains a place where people can walk the streets in safety,” added Supt Doyle.
Burglaries
THE alarming number of burglaries committed to date was raised at last week’s Westport Town Council meeting.
According to provisional figures released under the Policing Forum report, 50 burglaries were committed in the Westport district between the months of January and May. This is in stark contrast to a total of 58 burglaries for 2006.
According to Supt Doyle, 90 per cent of cases were committed by one specific culprit.
“In all cases petty cash was taken. The culprit went for a quick robbery, opting for loose cash and change rather than taking electrical or other goods.”
The highest number of burglaries took place in January and March with 16 and 14 incidents respectively, while in May nine incidents were reported. The offences were all carried out on specific nights, with multiple burglaries committed.
In the majority of incidents, business premises were targeted, prompting Supt Doyle to urge proprietors to ensure that security systems, including CCTV, are in place to give the maximum protection to their premises.
Statistics Westport District
Provisional Figures
Drink Driving
January to May 2007 - 27 cases
January to May 2006 - 33 cases
January to December 2006 - 90 cases
Burglaries
January to May 2007 - 50
January to May 2006 - 26
January to December 2006 - 58
Criminal Damage
January to May 2007 - 56
January to December 2006 - 146
There was a peak in July with 39 incidents occurring. This was due to the damage caused to cars parked at Roonagh Pier, Louisburgh.
Public Order
January to May 2007 - 56 cases
including 13 assault cases, two of which were serious assault causing harm.
Juvenile Diversion Programme 2007 - 53 referrals
January to May 2006 - 57 cases
including 13 assault cases
January to December 2006 - 192 cases
including assaults.
Encompasses intoxication in a public place, threatening and abusive behaviour, failure to comply with the direction of a Garda. Included in these figures are assaults – serious assault causing harm.
Garda pedal patrol comes to Westport
GARDA bike patrols are to become a common sight around Westport in the coming weeks. Three members of the force are set to take to the saddle as part of a a new policing strategy devised by An Garda Síochána.
The Garda Mountain Bicycle Patrols were launched in Dublin in 2003 and were extended to Waterford, Drogheda, Naas and Athlone in July 2004.
Units are to be launched in Westport over the coming weeks, with Ballina, Castlebar and Ballinrobe also adopting the new strategy. Members of the force will carry out routine day duties, incorporating bike patrol as opposed to foot patrol.
According to Supt Pat Doyle of Westport Garda Station the initiative is a welcome development.
“It adds to the existing strategy in place. The bike patrols can move around the town and also to the outskirts of town. They give an added dimension to policing within the region. For instance, in terms of traffic problems within the town, bike patrols can get access to a scene quicker perhaps than a patrol car could. They are a positive development in terms of increasing responsiveness and effectiveness,” explained Supt Doyle.
Members of the force who have opted for the mountain bike patrol duties had to undergo an intensive course at the Garda training centre in Templemore. Contrary to popular opinion, there is quite a high failure rate attached to the course.
“The course is extremely intensive and does require certain skills. Three members of the force – Garda Linus Fahy, Garda Brendan Flaherty and Garda Michelle Sweeney – all came through the course and in a short time they will be seen around the town,” concluded Supt Doyle.
