Alan Dillon
Question:
597. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline current and planned legislation to protect local shops and convenience store who are subjected to retail crime and theft; if he will outline measures he intends implementing following Garda figures released which reported thefts from shops had increased by 41% over the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15385/23]
View answer
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact him again when this is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51:
As you are aware the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001 legislates for offences relating to retail theft. There are currently no plans to revise this offence. I am further advised by Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána liaise with retailers nationally through the National Strategic Retail Forum which is an integral part of the An Garda Síochána Crime Prevention & Reduction Strategy 2021-2024.
This forum is led by the Garda National Crime Prevention Unit, and An Garda Síochána engage with external stakeholders in relation to retail theft and related crime. This Forum provides Retail Forum members the opportunity to raise issues and concerns and the sharing of crime prevention knowledge to assist and collaborate in combined efforts to reduce and prevent crime.
As you are aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics, including recorded and detected crime. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
The table below sets out the CSO crime statistics under the heading “Theft from Shop” for the years 2019 up to 2022.
|
Year
|
Theft from shop
|
|
2019
|
24678
|
|
2020
|
19536
|
|
2021
|
19531
|
|
2022
|
27491
|
I am advised by the Garda authorities that under Covid-19 restrictions there was a general, and welcome, decrease in many categories of crime, including theft from shops. However as society returns to normal pre-pandemic activity many categories of crime have seen a consequential increase.
Further information about crime prevention strategies, including theft from shops, is available on the Garda website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/crime-prevention/.
I hope this information will be of assistance to you.
