Drug dealing figures treble
ASSURANCES Top cop says specialist unit here to stay
The most senior garda in Cavan has given a cast iron guarantee that the local drugs unit will continue to operate after a 300% increased in detections of drug dealing.
The assurances were given by Chief Superintendent Aiden Glacken in light of the latest crime figures showing that incidents of possession of drugs for sale or supply had jumped to 58, as of November 22 – an increase of 305% from the 19 incidents at the same stage of 2019.
There was also a spike in incidents of possession of drugs for personal use in the same period, up from 155 in 2019 to 211 this year (36%).
“I can assure you and I can assure this committee that there will be a permanent dedicated divisional drugs unit in Cavan Monaghan Division.
“At the moment there is also an established satellite drugs unit based in Cavan Town for the last number of months, which have been very very successful, and it is my intention that they also will stay in place.”
He added that a change in rosters had seen additional staff working in drugs.
“That will continue. Let people not have any fear around that, and I will give my commitment here to that,” he said.
Chief Supt Glacken was addressing his first Cavan JPC meeting since taking on his new role. He is attached to Sligo and Leitrim, and since John O’Reilly’ retirement on September 1, he has taken “stewardship” of the Cavan Monaghan Division “until and if” a new chief superintendent is appointed to the area.
Numerous politicians had stressed the importance of a dedicated drugs unit.
Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF) commended the work of the drugs unit in detecting crimes relating to drug use.
“It’s a huge issue in our communities and if you look at the figures they’re alarming,” said the Bailieborough councillor.
Responding to Cllr McDonald, the garda chief said that the detection of drugs was the responsibility of all gardaí, not just the dedicated drugs unit.
This comment appeared to spark other politicians to emphasise that the drugs unit is essential.
The county had previously been without a dedicated drugs unit, with the overall crime unit taking charge of the sphere.
Cllr Patricia Walsh said: “From experience and from working within communities in all parts of the county, a dedicated drugs unit, it does work. And we public represenatatives who live in communities know it works.”
“They are not openly dealing on the streets, which was happening for a long period of time,” she said, appealing to the senior garda for an assurance on the drugs unit.
“I think if you have specific trained gardaí who can detect drugs and know the ins and outs of these people who are peddling on our streets and they don’t care what background you are – it is ruining families and it’s ruining lives.”
Echoing his party colleague, Deputy Brendan Smith stressed that a dedicated drugs unit in the Cavan-Monaghan Garda division, “adequately resourced in all respects” to deal with this problem is essential.
“Unless we as a country make progress in dealing with this scourge, we can see drug dealers destroy society.”
He noted the “frustration” of some of the public who see people dealing in their communities and added that, despite the work of the drugs unit, the issue remains a problem for every parish.
It was after these contributions that Chief Supt Glacken gave his comprehensive assurances.
Of other crimes, Chief Supt Glackin observed: “Covid has had a very substantial effect on the crime figures in a positive way.”
He reported that many crime categories were down on this time last year he referenced burglaries (down 35%); thefts (down 470 to 320) and assaults (down 15%).