Over 2,000 garda searches in Ballyfermot in six months
GARDAI have carried out over 2,000 searches in the Ballyfermot area in the first six months of 2017.
The searches include that of vehicles, property and people – and form part of Operation Hybrid, which was set up to provide an armed response to organised crime in Dublin.
Inspector Andy Tuite, Ballyfermot Garda Station said the operation has featured “armed and uniformed” personnel, and led to “significant checkpoints in the Ballyfermot area.”
Insp Tuite said the operation was “balanced with our own policing in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard”, and consisted mainly of evening and night-time patrols.
Seizure of vehicles under Section 41 in the area has increased dramatically over the last three years.
The move, which often refers to vehicles seized from motorists for having no insurance or road tax, saw gardai carrying out 477 seizures of vehicles in Ballyfermot from January to June 2017.
Latest crime figures for the area, indicate a majority of crimes have decreased, including burglary, which was down to 41 in the first six months of 2017, compared to 100 in the corresponding period 2015.
Theft from shop from January to June 2017 was 26, whilst there were 72 public order offences and 22 drug seizures in the same period.
Criminal damage offences were down to 116 in the first six months of 2017, compared to 176 in the same period 2015.
