ANTI DRUG campaigners who take the law into their own hands are taking up valuable Garda resources which could be used to investigate drug dealing, a Garda expert told a Co Cork conference on drugs at the weekend.
Det Supt Eddie Rock, Head of the European Office at Garda Headquarters told the conference in Band on, organised by the European Movement, that while many people were frustrated with the perceived lack of progress in the fight against drugs, they should not resort to vigilantism.
"It results in Garda resources being diverted away from the drugs scene - the investigation of the murder of Josie Dwyer for example, has taken up thousands of man hours which could have been devoted directly to investigating drug dealing."
Det Supt Rock said gardai had to move carefully to ensure successful prosecutions. This was something the public did not always appreciate and it often led to frustration on their part.
He said it was only through a multi faceted approach that the drugs menace would be defeated. Greater education by families and in the education system to try to control demand were as important as efforts to control supply.
Earlier, Labour MEP for Dublin Ms Bernie Malone called on the Government to appoint a Minister of State to deal specifically with the drugs problems, and she also warned against people taking the law into their own hands.
Vigilantes targeting the homes of addicts - themselves the victims of drug pushers - and telling them where to live, usurped the power of the State. It was similar to cases of travellers being forced out, she said.
A Swedish delegate, Mr Jonas Hartelius, urged the EU, as a corporate entity, to ratify United Nations conventions on drugs. These conventions were a bulwark against the legalisation of drugs and their ratification would lay a common framework for domestic drug legislation in all EU member states.
The conference was also told that the new Criminal Justice Act would prove a major weapon in the anti drugs fight through granting the Naval Service powers of arrest at sea previously available only to the Garda and Customs.
Commander Eugene Ryan of Naval Headquarters said the Naval Service had hitherto been hamstrung by not being able to board suspect vessels itself.
"Our powers of enforcement will be increased significantly by the Criminal Justice Act - as it is we can only board a trawler or fishing boat - we have to be accompanied by a member of the gardai or the Customs if we want to board other vessels."
Although the Criminal Justice Act will give the Naval Service powers of enforcement within Ireland's 12 mile limit, when the Vienna Convention is signed these powers will then be extended to the 200 mile limit, said Commander Ryan.
The Naval Service currently has patrol responsibility for 132,000 square miles of sea - four times the size of the State and representing about 22 per cent of EU waters. Of its seven vessels, four are at sea during the week and three at weekends, he said.
Commander Ryan said having more personnel would be "an advantage" the service has 1,100 personnel - and also said the seized drug yacht, The Brime, would be an ideal vessel for both sail training and drug search training.