When there was a downward trend in crimes such as assaults and burglaries during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, incidences of drink and drug driving in Co Monaghan were on the increase and this was a source of concern for the Gardaí, Tuesday’s meeting of the Co Monaghan Joint Policing Committee was told. Garda Chief Superintendent Aidan Glacken informed the meeting that the Gardaí were particularly concerned about a rise in cocaine use which was a factor in the drug driving increase.
However, the Chief Superintendent also highlighted significant recent success by the Gardaí with regard to the seizure of illegal drugs. Reporting on crime figures in the county for the first quarter of the year, Chief Superintendent Glacken said there had been roughly a 40% increase in the number of assaults and burglaries when compared to the same period in 2020.
Public order incidents had fallen from 203 to 133 and there had also been a reduction in the number of thefts detected. He pointed out that since the last meeting of the JPC there had been 54 drink driving and 24 drug driving arrests, with the increase in drug driving giving the Gardaí particular concern, especially the use of cocaine. However, the Chief Superintendent noted, since the last meeting…
