The ongoing positive impact of ‘Operation Thor’ on combatting residential burglaries welcomed by communities.
Operation Thor is An Garda Síochána’s national strategy targeting organised crime groups involved in burglaries and associated criminal activity.
The winter phase of Operation Thor commenced on 1 October 2024 and will run until the end of March 2025.
A reduction of approximately 75% in residential burglaries has been recorded between 2016 and 2023.
Operation Thor, was commenced by An Garda Síochána in 2015, and is designed to tackle an anticipated increase in the number of burglaries and associated criminal activity that usually occur during winter months, by undertaking targeted enforcement and preventative activity. This initiative has successfully reduced the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property-related crime since its introduction.
Between January 1st 2024 and December 11th 2024, some 2,058 arrests and 4,663 charges and summons were recorded in association with Operation Thor.
Operation Thor tackles burglary and actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity, based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends.
Since Operation Thor was established a reduction of approximately 75% in residential burglaries has been recorded between 2016 and 2023.
Last month, a comprehensive policing operation under Operation Thor, resulted in 23 arrests. These individuals were charged with a total of 100 offences including offences for burglary, theft, unauthorised taking of a vehicle and possession of stolen property. Just recently, three people were arrested as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting an organised criminal group suspected of committing burglaries at commercial properties in Galway, Mayo, Cork, Kildare and Wexford.
The Garda crime prevention advice under Operation Thor, which is highlighted through public information campaigns and by Garda Prevention Officers includes the ‘Lock up, Light up’ campaign.
An Garda Síochána also have a free property recording app. Should any items be stolen, the app provides a way of reporting this to An Garda Síochána and gives the public the option to share information with Gardaí for this purpose.
The Department of Justice also provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by community groups in administering the Text Alert Scheme.
Text Alert enables communities to set up a group to receive alerts advising them of suspicious or criminal activity in their area. As well as ensuring awareness among users of the service, it can also lead to them reporting suspicious activity to Gardaí.
Further information on the property marking app, text alert schemes and other crime prevention information can be found on the Garda website: www.garda.ie.
‘Always Here’ aims to increase awareness of pathways to safety and supports available.
Christmas and New Year is a tough time for some, when reports of domestic abuse can escalate.
Rollout of campaign being led by Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency.
The importance of ‘Always Here’; the awareness raising campaign on pathways to safety and supports available to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is now being highlighted.
The campaign will run over Christmas and into January; a time when reports of domestic abuse in particular can increase, and it encourages victims to reach out for help and to report what has happened or is happening to them.
The central message is that when someone takes that brave step to seek help – from state agencies such as An Garda Síochána and the Court Service or from any of the vital organisations in the community and voluntary sectors that work with victims – that they will be listened to, they will be taken seriously and they will be given the support they need.
New figures from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) show that there has been a 9% increase in the number of contacts to Gardai in relation to domestic violence this year. It is noted that both domestic violence and sexual violence are crimes that had traditionally been under-reported, and that significant work is now being done to increase reporting, including through awareness campaigns.
The “Always Here“ campaign website – alwayshere.ie – has information on national helplines for both men and women subjected to domestic and sexual violence. It has an interactive map where people can find local services in their county.
It also has information on supports for people who are under 18, and for older people and those with disabilities, as well as practical information on how to make a safety plan or what happens in a criminal trial.
“Always Here” is a key action under the Protection Pillar of the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Now in its second year, this campaign is being managed by Cuan, the new DSGBV Agency, established in early 2024.
Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan said: “At this time of year, more than ever, it is important that we make sure that those who need help and support can find it. This is why we in Cuan are proud to be rolling out the Always Here campaign over the holiday season, as well as working with our partners on developing further campaign elements for rollout later in 2025. Behind the “Always Here” message are the people delivering the services that we are signposting – the people answering the phone on the helplines, those who will accompany someone to a sexual assault treatment unit, members of An Garda Síochána latter responding to reports of domestic violence, and many more. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of all those who will be supporting victims and survivors of DSGBV during these weeks and beyond. Thank you for always being here.”
The campaign is running across TV, national and local radio, in press, digital and social media, in cinemas and on a major out-of-home campaign on billboards and digital screens throughout Ireland. The campaign also focuses on targeting people in spaces such as in GP waiting rooms, pharmacies, in pubs, on buses or where they do their shopping. It also focuses on people living in Ireland but using media in other languages.
Sadly, we report that two men have lost their lives in a house fire in Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Both men; one aged in his 80s and one aged in his 50s, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
House where, sadly, two men lost their lives early this morning. Pic: G. Willoughby.
The men are identified locally as a father and son, members of the Lee family.
The blaze, which is now extinguished, is understood to have occurred at about 2:30am and Emergency Services and Gardaí remain at the scene, as investigation get underway.
It is understood that both men died from smoke inhalatation.
In a country which is unable to properly maintain road surfaces outside of Dublin city; the Road Safety Authority has announced price increases for a number of its services, including driving licence fees and NCTs.
The price of a driving licence is now set to increase in price by €10.00; from the current price of €55.00 to €65.00, while the price of a learner permit will also increase by €10.00 from €35.00 to €45.00.
A full NCT will now also increase in price by €5.00 from €55 to €60, while a retest currently costing €28.00, will now cost an extra €12.00; increased to €40.00.
A commercial vehicle roadworthiness test will also increase by 15% in the pre-VAT cost.
All price changes are expected to come into effect from January 1st 2025.
The RSA maintain that the increase in prices is due to a planned €18m expenditure on “public interest activities and government priorities”, (whatever they are).
Note: Ireland’s current national car fleet currently stands at some 2.36 million vehicles. Petrol and Diesel model account for 89% (two million vehicles) of this National Fleet, while Electric Vehicles (EV & PHEV) represent some 5%.Ireland’s current population in 2023 was 5.262 million.
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