IFA CALL FOR RURAL FORUM TO TACKLE INCREASED BURGLARIES AND RURAL CRIME

IFA Deputy President & Countryside Spokesman Eddie Downey has called for the immediate establishment of a Rural Forum to tackle the increasing incidence of burglaries and theft in rural Ireland.

Commenting on the recently released CSO Crime data, Mr Downey said, “Over 100,000 burglaries and thefts have taken place this year so far, with burglaries increasing by almost 9% in recent months. This reflects reality on the ground, with farmers regularly reporting robberies of agricultural machinery and farm equipment.”

A Rural Forum is required, made up of representatives of An Garda Síochána and community groups. The Forum must deliver the following four key proposals, to fight rural crime:

·         The Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010 which was published in July 2010 must be enacted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.  This Bill must be strengthened to allow the use of justifiable force against an intruder, and the homeowner must not be liable for any criminal charges in respect of any injury, loss or damage arising from such force.

·         The Seniors Alert scheme which provides financial support for the use of personal pendant alarms by elderly people should be extended to cover the installation of house alarms.

·         The Community Alert programme, as operated by Muintir na Tíre should be re-invigorated and the National Crime Council should be re-established.

·         A scrap-metal compliance scheme must be developed, which monitors the purchase and re-sale of scrap metal. This will ensure that only legitimate products are traded, and will reduce the risk of theft of metal from farmyards and out-farms.

IFA Deputy President & Countryside Spokesman Eddie Downey has called for the immediate establishment of a Rural Forum to tackle the increasing incidence of burglaries and theft in rural Ireland.

Commenting on the recently released CSO Crime data, Mr Downey said, “Over 100,000 burglaries and thefts have taken place this year so far, with burglaries increasing by almost 9% in recent months. This reflects reality on the ground, with farmers regularly reporting robberies of agricultural machinery and farm equipment.”

A Rural Forum is required, made up of representatives of An Garda Síochána and community groups. The Forum must deliver the following four key proposals, to fight rural crime:

·         The Criminal Law (Defence and the Dwelling) Bill 2010 which was published in July 2010 must be enacted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.  This Bill must be strengthened to allow the use of justifiable force against an intruder, and the homeowner must not be liable for any criminal charges in respect of any injury, loss or damage arising from such force.

·         The Seniors Alert scheme which provides financial support for the use of personal pendant alarms by elderly people should be extended to cover the installation of house alarms.

·         The Community Alert programme, as operated by Muintir na Tíre should be re-invigorated and the National Crime Council should be re-established.

·         A scrap-metal compliance scheme must be developed, which monitors the purchase and re-sale of scrap metal. This will ensure that only legitimate products are traded, and will reduce the risk of theft of metal from farmyards and out-farms.