Garda∅ are introducing a series of legal and policing measures to try and reduce levels of street violence, under-age drinking and late-night disturbance.
The measures will include the use of undercover officers in licensed premises suspected of selling alcohol to minors; directives that anyone arrested for assault arising from public disorder be charged and brought straight to court the next morning; and more police on duty at times and locations when disturbances are most likely.
Senior garda∅ also told The Irish Times that they believed the best way to tackle under-age drinking was to introduce a national identity card system, as exists in most other EU states.
A senior source said that the problem of late-night disorder had grown to the point where it had been decided that a "zero tolerance" option was the only way to deal with it. The situation at the end of last month when three young men were on life-support machines simultaneously in Cork and Dublin as a result of late-night assaults has helped prompt the change in direction in public order policing.
Until now, people arrested for public order offences were mainly released without charge and dealt with by way of summons. This meant that young men who had been responsible for quite serious acts of disorder were back on the streets within hours, or less, of being released.
Under the new campaign, "Operation Encounter", two pilot schemes are already under way in the Garda western and southern regions to implement the new measures. In both regions people charged with disorder offences will be held in custody overnight and brought before the next available sitting of District Courts.
Senior Garda sources said it was already evident that areas where courts were seen as "lenient" on public disorder cases suffered more from the problems of street violence than areas where the courts dispensed harsher sentences. Garda∅ hope that courts will respond to their initiative by giving priority to assault and disorder cases.
Garda∅ point out that a good deal of responsibility for the problems in late-night disorder stems from sections of the licensed trade which are serving drink to young and often under-age people.
As part of "Operation Encounter" undercover garda∅ will monitor premises where it is suspected drink is being served to under-age people. Senior sources say that any licensee found to be in breach of the licensing laws in this regard will face stern action.
Under the same initiative owners of late-night food outlets will also be made accountable for disorder taking place in or around their premises. Garda∅ can object to trading licences for such premises and if there is habitual trouble around fast food outlets, they may be closed down.
Garda∅ are pursuing a number of cases against licensed businesses which have been found selling drink to minors and, sources say, the number of such cases is likely to increase. Senior garda∅ say it is incumbent on traders to ensure their actions do not contribute to lawlessness and those who ignore the law will be pursued.
In the two Garda divisions where the new measures are being tested, policing resources are being directed towards dealing with late-night violence. This will be extended on a national basis in the coming months.
Garda∅ in Dublin say they have noticed a gradual increase in the amount and seriousness of late-night street violence since the early 1990s when the traditional method of holding people in cells overnight before bringing them to court was dispensed with.