White Paper on Crime Consultation Process

Feedback Received on First Discussion Document -'Crime Prevention and Community Safety'

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., has today published two documents summarising the feedback received on the White Paper on Crime Discussion Document, 'Crime Prevention and Community Safety'.

The first of these documents outlines the written responses received by the Department following a public request for submissions. The second, prepared by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), records the views expressed at a range of regional consultation seminars organised by the Department during 2009 and  facilitated by the IPA.

Minister Ahern said: "I would like to thank all those individuals and organisations who took the time to make written submissions and to participate in the consultation seminars. When I launched the White Paper on Crime project, I emphasised that consultation would be a key part of the exercise, and this first phase has got the process off to a very good start. The views and suggestions are of considerable value in shaping the future direction of crime policy in Ireland". 

Input was received from a wide range of organisations and individuals. Issues raised included:

·        the need for measures to tackle the underlying causes of crime
·        co-ordination of crime prevention efforts between the relevant agencies
·        community policing and communications between An Garda Síochána and the public
·        community partnerships to prevent crime and improve quality of life
·        the contribution technology and building design can make in preventing crime
·        the role played by alcohol and drug abuse in offending
·        protection for elderly and isolated members of the community
·        intervention with children and parents to prevent young people becoming involved in crime
·        strategies to reintegrate offenders and reduce future offending
·        greater use of community-based sanctions and restorative justice
·        resources for crime prevention measures, and
·        the need for improved research and statistics on crime in Ireland  

4 February 2010

Note for Editors 

In January, 2009 the Minister announced the commencement of work on a process designed to lead to a White Paper on Crime. The White Paper, due to be completed in 2011, will set out the overall policy framework within which measures to tackle crime will be implemented well into the future.

A key element in the consultation process is the production of a series of discussion documents which will be used to give structure to the very broad range of subjects which need to be examined as part of the project.

The first of these documents dealt with Crime Prevention and Community Safety (July 2009). A second document, dealing with Criminal Sanctions, will be published shortly.  Topics under consideration for subsequent documents include the Community and the Criminal Justice system and Organised and ‘non-street’ Crime.

In addition to inviting written submissions, the Department also organised a series of 5 regional seminars which were held in November and December 2009 and to which a wide range of voluntary and community organisations, statutory bodies and other key stakeholders were invited.  

Further seminars will be held over the course of the process so that a broad geographic reach will have been achieved by its conclusion.