Crime fears outstrip reality, Inspector tells forum

The “perception” that crime is more widespread and ever-present across Cavan is not reflected in “reality”, a senior garda has told members of the county's Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP).

Addressing a meeting of the partnership at Cavan Courthouse earlier this month, Inspector Lionel Mullally said one of the most important “lessons” he has learned during two decades of policing is that public perceptions of crime often differ significantly from the actual level of offending taking place.

Having previously served on Joint Policing Committees (JPCs) since 2005 and worked with the Midlands Drugs Taskforce while stationed in Longford, Insp Mullally said his experience has shown that “the perception of crime and the reality of crime are very different”.

He pointed to findings contained in the recently published Planet Youth report for Cavan-Monaghan, which indicate that fewer than one-third of people under the age of 30 years have ever experimented with illegal drugs.

The report also found that fewer than seven per cent will go on to develop addiction-related issues.

Insp Mullally suggested public concern can often be shaped by isolated incidents that unfortunately leave a lasting impression.

“Once seen, it can't be unseen,” he remarked, noting that when people witness or hear about criminal activity, it can create a belief that such incidents are occurring constantly.

However, he claimed that the notion crime is taking place in every community, at every hour of the day, is simply not borne out by the evidence to hand. “Social media and gossip,” he said, have a major part to play in the spread of misinformation, adding that the vast majority of work done by gardaí in the community, working towards the prevention of crime, will “never end up in the papers because it will never end up in court. That's the reality.”

Insp Mullally said that gardaí are handling complaints when made, in particular in relation to theft in the county, and addressed another perception, that Cavan is not getting its “fair share” of gardaí graduating out of Templemore.

Insp Mullally told the LCSP meeting that more gardaí are always welcome, but that Cavan is getting a fair assignment based on its population. “We have to use what we have, and improve on what we have,” he said.