Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern have identified tackling organised crime and breaking gang links to subversive or terrorist organisations as a key priority for the Garda this year.
The Garda’s policing plan for 2011, published today, also says the force will continue to develop its “crisis management capability” in relation to tiger kidnappings and hostage negotiations.
The plan says An Garda Síochána will this year work to identify drug and human trafficking networks, combat low level street drug dealing and target assets that are the proceeds of crime.
“National security and the reduction of crime and fear of crime are part of our core business,” said Mr Callinan, who succeeded Fachtna Murphy at the end of last month.
Mr Callinan said the Garda would also be placing an emphasis on domestic violence, crimes of a sexual nature, the management of the risks associated with sex offenders and the support and protection of child victims.
The force last year published a domestic violence policy and policy on the investigation of sexual crime, and it established a sexual offender management and intelligence unit.
Mr Callinan said these developments would support gardaí who are “dealing with these challenging and difficult crimes and vulnerable victims”.
As well as combating organised crime, other Garda priorities for 2011 include increasing capabilities for detecting drug driving, minimising the impact of public disorder, assaults and criminal damage; and protecting vulnerable persons and groups such as children and older people in the community.
Mr Callinan said guiding principles of the plan were maximising resources by engaging in intelligence-led operations and protecting communities through high visibility patrolling.
