Apportioning blame for the security failures that led to an armed robbery of €2.4 million from a Brinks Allied cash-in-transit van in Dublin only serves to distract attention from other, longer-standing problems.
It is clear that serious mistakes were made which played into the hands of a ruthless criminal gang. And while particular lessons must be learned from the Artane incident, we should remember that armed raids have become almost common in recent years.
The incidence of such raids, the growing audacity and professionalism of the robbers and the failure of the Garda to apprehend them were not issues that commended themselves - at least in public - to the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell or to the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, yesterday. Instead, following a meeting with representatives of private security firms and the main banks, Mr McDowell demanded the establishment of a code of standards by the security companies and the introduction of new security practices. There was a hint of political bluster about it all. Under existing law, a new security services authority will begin to regulate and license such companies from October.
There have been countless raids on ATM machines and cash transit vehicles in recent years. They are obviously viewed as a soft touch by criminals. Nine months ago, a senior manager in Brinks Allied spoke of cash transit companies being "under siege from armed gangs". And he called on the Garda, the security companies and financial institutions to work together to prevent further losses. But, on the basis of recent robberies, not nearly enough has been done.
Industrial unrest within the sector has been a factor. Last July, when Brinks Allied purchased a new fleet of transit vehicles and sought to implement new security arrangements, Siptu members embarked on industrial action. Following four weeks of disruption, a settlement was reached which included the use of smoke/dye boxes in the transport of cash. Crew members would not have access to the boxes and any unauthorised tampering would render the money useless. In spite of that agreement, however, which was supposed to make it "virtually impossible" for armed criminals to grab cash, the old-style bags are still in use.
There is a need for radical change within the industry. And the level of co-operation with the Garda has to be improved. Preventing large sums of money falling into the hands of criminals must be the priority. But attention should also be paid to Siptu warnings of industrial disruption unless sufficient attention is paid to its members' concerns. The banking sector is among the most profitable in the State. It has benefited enormously from reductions in tax levels. Mr McDowell has spoken of such companies contributing more than one-third of the cost of providing Garda/Army escorts. That seems fair. In the meantime, however, the Garda must identify and prosecute those responsible for the robberies.