Dubliners are more worried about anti-social behaviour on their streets than more serious types of crime, a report revealed today.
The Lord Mayor's Commission on Crime received complaints about drug addicts injecting in public, groups drinking alcohol in parks, and revellers vomiting and urinating in gardens outside pubs.
It took submissions from more than 40 focus group meetings to compile its report. Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan said anti-social behaviour was creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
"Dublin communities feel that their concerns about these patterns of crimes are not being heard. Neighbours complain but nothing seems to happen. We need to work together more effectively and stop passing the buck from one organisation to the other," he said.
The Commission's report recommended the setting up of a community safety and policing team, which would report to Dublin City Council.
It also recommended the appointment of an Assistant Garda Commissioner for community policy, a new court in Dublin to deal with anti-social behaviour offences and the appointment of 10 extra District Court judges.
Mr Conaghan said people also wanted to see more gardai on the beat. "They want to hear their feet on the streets, not their sirens as they speed past in cars with flashing lights," he said.
The Commission report said the easy availability of alcohol was leading to 'intimidatory' groups drinking in parks, estates and apartment complexes. However, it found that young people in some communities felt the gardai were hassling them to move on when they were doing nothing.
A group of early school leavers said: "Young people are not always drinking but usually just hanging out - there is nothing to be afraid of."
The report recommended the extension of opening hours for facilities such as swimming pools, arts and social centres and sports grounds. It said community gardai should be kept in place for at least two years and given a proper promotional structure.