(Pic: courtesy www.boyletoday.com)
Crime Figures Released
Worrying statistics reported in this weeks Roscommon Herald (from CSO figures) regarding crime levels increasing around the county. It's no secret that there are not enough gardaí to cover the entire area that they're being asked to. The Boyle squad car is covering half the county. Morale in the force appears to be at an all time low, hence the very real possibility of a strike by rank and file gardaí.
Some figures for the Roscommon/Longford Division showed:
* Boyle recorded 24 break-ins during the past year, an increase of 9.09%.
* A 220% increase in burglaries in the Rooskey area in the past year with 16 break ins recorded.
* 17 premises were burgled in the Castlerea area in 2015, a drop of 37.04% on the previous year.
* Athleague witnessed a 100% increase in break-ins for 2015 with four burglaries recorded.
* 25% increase in burglaries in Frenchpark area for 2015 with total of 15 premises recording a break in. * In Elphin there was an 80% increase with nine burglaries recorded on the statistics.
One wonders how many are not reported?
I sent our petition from the people of Boyle and outlying areas with over 2000 signatures, to the Minister for Justice, Ms Frances Fitzgerald on 3rd February 2016. I have received no acknowledgement or reply to date. I will send it again tomorrow and copy each of our 3 local TDs.
Hopefully we will get some acknowledgement from someone.
We have 6 councillors in the Boyle Municipal area and I have heard or read nothing from them regarding the reduced hours or the increase in crime figures. It's time they stood up now and got counted.