PRESS RELEASE

08/02/2005

Cork city curfew zones would crack down on crime - Kelleher

Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has said curfew zones targetting gangs of young people should be considered to stamp out anti-social behaviour in some high-density areas in the city.

Such zones would empower gardaí to break up groups of teenagers, ban those not from the area and escort home under-16s between 9pm and 6am in an effort to deprive gangs the public forum to engage in petty or serious crime or to intimidate local residents.

‘A number of residents, particularly those in housing estates in Cork city, have complained to me in recent months that they are intimidated by groups of teenagers when they step outside their doors. The increase in anti-social behaviour in these areas is in large part due to the scope afforded to unruly teenagers to congregate in built-up areas,' said Deputy Kelleher.

He said young single mothers have told him scare-stories about stepping beyond their hall doors.

‘Nobody should be afraid to leave their own homes. Intimidating young gangs who loiter in public places under the cover of darkness are effectively jailing residents in their own homes.

‘Extra gardaí in the area should be mobilised to target well-known blackspots for congregating teenagers. They should be able to issue on-the-spot dispersal orders and escort home minors who have no business hanging around residents' homes. Those not from the area should be banned from returning.

‘Some of these youngsters are illegally drinking or doing drugs. They constitute a vocal minority that must be tackled with stringent measures. The measures have already been pilotted in Leicester in England and police there say criminal damage had plummeted by 40 per cent since designated curfew zones were introduced.

‘I will be working closely with my Fianna Fáil colleagues on the local authority to investigate introducing these measures in Cork city. I will also contact officials in the Department of Justice and Law Reform to establish whether such curfew zones are possible under current legislation.

‘If extra gardaí need to be deployed to effect these measures, then that is what must be done. A tough stance is needed on crime and anti-social behaviour in Cork city. Gardaí there are already doing all they can within their judicial remit but perhaps it is time to add another layer to the crackdown on crime,' concluded Deputy Kelleher.