WHAT CAN be done about County Wexford’s increasing drugs problem?
That was amongst the chief topics for discussion at yesterday’s Joint Policing Committee meeting at Wexford County Council headquarters.
Public representatives in attendance heard of how there has been a 60 per cent increase in offences for possesion of drugs in 2016 to date when compared to the January to September period of 2015.
Offences for the distribution and cultivation of drugs in the county are also on the rise.
The establishment of a dedicated drugs squad and the introduction of sniffer dogs were amongst measures called for by councillors and TDs concerned about the need to tackle the problem.
Some €4.7 million worth of drugs has been seized in multiple importations at Rosslare Europort this year so far, while those in attendance also heard how two cultivations associated with organised crime had been identified in south County Wexford as recently as last Friday.
These significant statistics contrast strongly with a 53 per cent reduction in burglaries seen in the county this year to date.
Chief Superintendent John Roche said that the drop was the biggest he has ever seen.
“It’s down to good policing and the work we’ve done,” he was keen to point out.
Attentions, it would seem, however, must now turn to tackling the scourge of drugs in County Wexford.
Responding to an affirmation from the Chief Superintendent that the county does not have a full-time drugs squad, Fine Gael TD Michael d’Arcy said: “I think it’s important for the county. I can’t stress it highly enough.
“Whatever needs to be done needs to be done in the county to establish a drugs task force,” the deputy stated.
In response, Mr. Roche stated emphatically that he would consider Mr. D’Arcy’s call.
He stated, however, that it was unclear where in the county would be best to locate such a unit.
It may be best situated in Gorey, or in Enniscorthy, or at a mid-way point such as Oilgate, Mr. Roche outlined.
A number of Gardaí in the county, he said, were already specifically focussing their attentions on drugs.
See more in the Wexford Echo.