Number of non-nationals in crime here `insignificant'

The number of non-Irish nationals involved in organised crime here is "insignificant", the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, …

The number of non-Irish nationals involved in organised crime here is "insignificant", the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, told an international policing conference in Dublin yesterday. "As an island nation we have escaped a large influx of non-nationals engaged in crime," he said.

However, he warned that Ireland was used as a transit country in drug-trafficking operations. This was shown by recent drug seizures in the south-west as the amount of drugs found was "in excess of domestic demand".

He was addressing the European Executive Policing Conference at Dublin Castle, attended by more than 200 senior police officers from across the globe.

Stressing the importance of co-operation between different jurisdictions, he said the most important elements of Irish organised crime "comprise a relatively small number of well established and tightly structured groups" based in Dublin and the Netherlands. In general, such crime "does not operate under the control of any one group or individual".

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He said "just as modern day business is global, crime knows no frontiers. Co-operation between police forces must grow in the future."

Senator David Norris expressed concern at the shift from the uniformed officer on the beat to the emergency response car patrol.

"The more time police spend in their cars, the more vulnerable and exposed they feel when they are out of them," he said.

Mr Norris said the only effective approach to drug-trafficking was to destroy the market for drugs, so removing the financial incentive. "This can only be done by giving people adult choice with regard to drugs."

Organised by the Garda Siochana and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the conference runs until tomorrow with only limited media access.

The director of the FBI, Mr Louis Freeh, is among today's speakers.

Joe Humphreys

Joe Humphreys

Joe Humphreys is an Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and writer of the Unthinkable philosophy column