Proactive policing searches are down according to new Tipperary crime figures

Proactive policing searches within the Tipperary division are down 33% in the year to date.

That is according to the Chief Superintendent’s report delivered at this month’s sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee.

Incidents of possession of a deadly weapon were down 19%Possession of drugs for personal use was down 35%, and 14% for sale and supply.

Cllr Shane Lee said the figures could not be trusted because the resources are not there to detect the crimes.

He called the amalgamation of the Tipperary and Clare divisions a “recipe for disaster.”

Cllr Annemarie Ryan said proactive measures were great, but people needed to see gardaí on the street.

However, Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan argues that resources were being redistributed.

He said while there has been a decrease in searches, there is an increase in checkpoints.

According to his report, checkpoints were up 38% from 2,478 last year.

This means gardaí can monitor who comes into an area, which has a “knock-on effect” and so they “balance each other out.”

Regarding the amalgamation, the Chief Superintendent said there will always be resistance to new systems.

“It’s normal for people to be fearful of the unknown,” said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.

He said lots of work is being done locally by superintendents and that those worries the public has can be overcome by talking about it.