Crime council calls for implementation of child act

The 2001 Children's Act needs to be fully implemented as soon as possible so as to aid crime prevention and its underlying causes the chairman of the National Crime Council (NCC) said today.

Signed into law by the President in July 2001 the act remained unused until the then Minister for Justice signed a commencement order for parts of the act in May this year.

However, commencement orders have not been signed for the entire act with the result that some children are still dealt with under the 1908 Act, now almost a century old.

Publishing the council's consultation paper today, Judge Michael Reilly said the important role of early intervention and diversion from the criminal justice system, as provided in the act, should be adopted in all public policy and legislation.

He said the consultation paper sought to provide a structure to tackling the "causes of crime, crime prevention and anti-social behaviour at a local level".

The council recommended that the remit of the Probation and Welfare Service should be extended to allow it deal with young people "at risk" of offending and enhance early intervention.

The council was established by the Government last April following a year-long national survey of crime in the State. The council aims to research and publish information about crime statistics and the causes of crime.

Today's consultation paper precedes the submitting of the council's official recommendations to the Minister for Justice Mr McDowell in April 2003.

Judge Reilly said he hoped the consultation period "would lead to a greater co-ordination between agencies, including greater sharing of knowledge and expertise so interventions can happen earlier."

Other NCC recommendations include extended research on the characteristics of offenders in Ireland and consideration of the imposing of non-custodial sentences on juvenile and adult offenders.

Judge Reilly said the partnership approach recommended in the paper was intended to cover criminal and anti-social behaviour in communities like drug dealing, street violence, burglaries and larcenies.

These types of crime can cause "anxiety, annoyance and greatly impact on the quality of life of individuals and their families", he said.

• The full text of the NCC consultation paper is available on the council's website.