GRA calls for mandatory minimum sentences for street crime
Rank and file Gardaí are calling for mandatory minimum sentences to be introduced to tackle street crime.
At their annual conference in Cork, the Garda Representative Association accused the courts of being too lenient on offenders, particularly those convicted under the Public Order Act.
GRA president Greg Fogarty says the current penalties being handed down are no deterrent.
“Much of street crime is fuelled by alcohol. We’re not saying that more legislation is the answer. We don’t know if exclusion orders or closure orders are the real answer,” he said.
“The members are making the arrests under the existing public order legislation. And if they were supported in the courts, there would probably less street crime. People are just walking out on probation or small fines. That’s no incentive not to go out and re-offend.”
