Rabbitte calls for major reforms to tackle crime

The fight against crime could be enhanced by reforming the prison service and the courts, coupled with a greater emphasis on the Probation Act, according to the Labour Party leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte.

He said a move away from "wholesale imprisonment" to cheaper alternatives would help curb wasteful public expenditure.

The call for greater use of the Probation Act comes at a time when mid-ranking gardaí want the courts to move away from using the Act in favour of imposing prison sentences more frequently, particularly for drugs offences.

Mr Rabbitte said other issues also needed to be addressed, including the role of specialist crime-fighting units within the Garda and interaction between the force and other agencies such as Customs and Revenue.

"The Labour Party argues for major changes in a crucial set of relationships, namely those between the gardaí and prison service, the Department of Justice, the courts, the probation and welfare service and local authorities, subject to overall accountability to the Oireachtas," he said.