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News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: 17,000 Arrests In City Drugs Crackdown
Title:Ireland: 17,000 Arrests In City Drugs Crackdown
Published On:1998-02-07
Source:The Irish Independent
Fetched On:2008-09-07 15:54:36
17,000 ARRESTS IN CITY DRUGS CRACKDOWN

A CO-ORDINATED Garda crackdown on drug dealing on Dublin streets codenamed
Operation Dochas has resulted in the arrest of a massive 17,000 suspects in
the first 14 months.

New figures revealed last night show that Dochas and a series of subsequent
specialised anti-drug operations have had a major impact on the level of
street crime.

The number of syringe attacks in districts in the two inner city garda
divisions has plummetted by 11pc in some areas and to 32pc in other
targetted regions.

Burglaries, break-ins, and larcenies from cars, a favourite crime of street
drug addicts are all down substantially.

This follows a series of garda measures specifically concentrated on
preventing drug-related crime, particularly around the centre of Dublin
where the addicts were very active in smashing car windows and grabbing
goods from seats.

Dochas is concentrated throughout the Dublin metropolitan area and the
latest figures, obtained by the Irish Independent last night, showed that
drugs with a street value of more than IR£4,750,000 were seized in the 14
months since it was launched in October 1996.

Special anti-drug patrols carried out 69,400 street searches for drugs and
another 22,000 suspects were searched in garda stations after being
detained for questioning.

In a blitz on the dealers' suspected haunts, gardai searched 4,100 premises
and also set up 17,700 vehicular checkpoints on the targetted streets.

After arresting 17,000 suspects, the gardai brought charges in 7,800 cases
and issued summonses in another 15,200.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Jim McHugh, who has overall responsibility for
policing in the capital, said last night there was no doubt that Dochas and
other special initiatives had resulted in dramatic improvements in the
crime rate in some areas.

Dochas was complemented eight months ago by Operation Mainstreet which was
launched in the area around O'Connell Street. It led to 90 charges under
the Misuse of Drugs Act. The Gardai are awaiting directions from the DPP in
another 50 cases. It has resulted in the seizure of heroin worth £250,000
and other drugs with a street value of £15,000.

Chief Supt Richard Kelly, who is in charge on the north central division,
last night paid tribute to the north inner city communities for their
"tremendous help" in tackling the drug problem in their area.
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