A call has been made for more resources to tackle drugs-related crime which is said to be “destroying” communities in Clare.
The first Clare Joint Policing Committee meeting of the year has heard that offences related to the sale or supply of drugs are continuing to rise.
With recent Department of Justice figures revealing Clare’s Divisional Drugs Unit is the second-smallest in the country with just three Gardaí serving in it, questions have been raised as to the effectiveness of drugs policing in this county.
Data from the latest quarterly meeting of this county’s Joint Policing Committee shows 14 offences related to the sale or supply of drugs have been recorded in Clare so far this year.
This is up from 10 in the same period in 2023 which indicates a rise of 40%.
In addition, 27 possession-related offences were recorded in Clare between January and March.
The meeting has heard there are plans afoot to bolster the strength of this county’s Drugs Unit which was welcome news to many in attendance.
Clare Joint Policing Committee Chair and Sixmilebridge Fine Gael Councillor John Crowe is adamant more resources are needed to combat the issue, which he believes is prevalent in “every corner of Clare at the moment”.
You can listen to the full interview here:
As of last October, there are 293 Gardaí serving at stations across Clare; 13 fewer than the 306 in place here at the end of 2022, and 24 members below the national average.
Shannon, Ennis, Ennistymon and Kilrush are the only 24/7 Garda stations in the county.
The stations at Ballyvaughan, Kildysart, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay meanwhile are all served by a single Garda.
Chief Superintendent of the Clare/Tipperary Garda Division Aileen Magner says Gardaí are forced to “think outside the box” amid serious recruitment and retention difficulties.
