Crime prevention report calls for transparency

All agencies in the criminal justice system should operate "in a more open, transparent and accountable manner", according to a new report on crime prevention.

Published yesterday by the National Crime Council (NCC), the provisional study also calls for a perceived inconsistency in drug offence sentencing in the courts to be addressed.

"A mechanism needs to be found by which members of the judiciary can gain a deeper understanding of the effect particular types of criminal activity, such as drug dealing, can have on an area," the report, Tackling the Underlying Causes of Crime: A Partnership Approach, says.

Emphasising the need to improve co-operation and trust between State and voluntary agencies, it calls for a partnership approach under which "expertise, knowledge and resources" can be shared.

Judge Michael Reilly, a member of the council and chairman of its crime prevention subgroup, said the approach intended to cover types of crime and antisocial behaviour found in communities. These included drug dealing, assaults and theft. "Key stakeholders, working in partnership to tackle the underlying causes of crime at a local level can make a difference," he remarked.

Of the recommendation on judges, he said he would not view it as a criticism of the judiciary. "We are doing no more than highlighting a point of view that has been put to us."

He said the recommendations were provisional and the NCC was now seeking submissions from interested parties before its final recommendations were presented to the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, next Spring.

The NCC was established in April 2001 by Mr McDowell's predecessor, Mr O'Donoghue, following the report of the national crime forum. Its remit is to research crime prevention and raise public knowledge of crime-related issues.

Other recommendations of the report include the speedy implementation of the Children Act, 2001, and the introduction of "crime proofing" in Government bodies whereby new policies are examined for their potential positive or negative effects on crime.

The report adds the Garda "must build upon the ongoing community policing structures", while on prisons, it says, "there is a real need to provide support structures for ex-prisoners to help aid their re-integration." In the area of criminal justice, the report says it supports expansion of non-custodial sanctions with a rehabilitative focus.

Submissions on the report should be sent to the NCC before December 13th next. The Council intends to hold a seminar next February when oral submissions will be heard.