Tipp domestic abuse up 11%

Chief Supt Derek Smart informed a recent meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee that domestic abuse incidents have increased across the division by 11%. There were nearly 600 incidents recorded in this category in the first half of the year.

Cllr Pat English observed that the domestic abuse incidence has risen at every JPC briefing for some time now. Previously, the reason given was the lockdown but he was concerned to see that the incidence is still increasing. Cllr English wondered if further resources are required in this area.

Cllr Shane Lee said many people are afraid to report incidents such as domestic abuse, assaults and drug dealing to the gardaí. Often when a report is made, people are fearful of making a formal statement, which makes the matter difficult for the gardaí to prosecute. Cllr Lee said individuals and their families are being threatened, and he wondered if there is anything the JPC could do about this.

Deputy Mattie McGrath agreed that people are experiencing intimidation. Gardaí are also intimidated and indeed put in danger by lack of resources, he said, calling for more garda numbers in Tipperary.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose questioned the accuracy of the figures circulated at the meeting, as she agreed that a lot of crimes go unreported out of fear. “It is a very big concern,” she said, wanting the message to go out that people can report suspicious activity to the gardaí without giving their name.

Cllr Ambrose also wanted to see more garda visibility “on the beat” in towns as opposed to mobile patrols. She wondered if more training is needed for gardaí in the area of domestic violence, especially in cases where the victim is male.

‘REVOLVING DOOR’

IFA representative Pat Carroll said the justice system is not helping gardaí in that repeat offenders are not being punished in the courts. “The very system they're using as a deterrent is letting them down and it's not sufficiently working to deter crime,” Mr Carroll said, describing a “revolving door” system of offenders being released so soon after their arrest.

Chief Supt Smart said he would always like to have more gardaí and that he would similarly welcome more drugs support workers in towns like Nenagh, Roscrea and Clonmel. He added that the rollout of community CCTV schemes has been of great assistance to the gardaí, and this would continue as further schemes are rolled out.

The Chief Super had to deploy resources as best he could. A domestic violence support unit has been set up in Tipperary while frontline numbers are maintained. Training for the members of the unit is regularly updated.

He said the gardaí have systems in place to support the people that do come forward to report crime. “Our number is on the back of the patrol cars,” he said. “Pick up the phone and ring. You don't have to leave a name. We will support you as best we can.”