The death of Quam Babatunde after being stabbed on South Anne Street in central Dublin in the early hours of Sunday morning will only exacerbate concerns about public safety and knife crime. It comes a week after three men were injured in a knife attack in Stoneybatter in north Dublin.
The publication of new figures showing that the number of knives seized by the Garda each year has risen by almost 60 per cent over the last 10 years will do little to put the public’s mind at ease. It will no doubt lead to pressure on the Government to act, or at least be seen to do so, when the Dáil returns next week.
A hasty or reflexive response to these recent developments to is to be avoided. There is a need for context, particularly regarding knife crime and knife seizures.
The last comprehensive analysis of knife crime was carried out by the Garda in 2021 and an updated report is understood to be in preparation. The 2021 report noted the large increase in knife seizures but attributed a significant portion of them to changes in the way in which evidence – such as seized knives –was recorded.
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It concluded – after also looking at the number of people discharged from hospital following an assault with a knife and recorded incidents in which a knife was involved – that there was “no strong evidence to suggest that there has been any increase in crime incidents involving knives”.
More recent figures do show in increase in hospital discharges but, absent the promised follow-up Garda report, the levels of knife crime in Ireland still appear relatively low .The lack of a strong evidential basis did not stop the previous Minster for Justice, Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee from introducing tougher sentences for knife-related crimes last September based on what she described as a valid increase in public concern.
The maximum sentence for the possession of a knife in a public place intending to injure incapacitate or intimidate a person has increased from five years to seven years.
This Government - and its predecessor – has also promised more Garda on the streets. McEntee’s successor, Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan, has pointed out that irrespective of the number of Garda on patrol the responsibility for such attacks rests with the perpetrator. Nonetheless a police presence is important as a signal to the public.
He did also take the opportunity to flag the need for cross party support for the introduction of legislation allowing greater use of facial recognition technology by the Garda, something he supported previously as his party’s justice spokesman. There are, however, serious civil liberties issues here and caution is needed.
The Government should respond to public concern but must act on the basis of evidence and a clear strategy to make the streets safer.
