Latest news with #JuvenileDiversionProgramme
Sunday World
7 hours ago
- Sunday World
Teen (13) speeding on e-scooter ‘drove recklessly' to avoid capture by Gardaí
The teenager was eventually caught and is now being dealt with through the Juvenile Diversion Programme The teenager was apprehended by Gardaí and the e-scooter was seized. Photo: An Garda Síochána Kildare A teenage boy who was caught speeding on an e-scooter in Co Kildare refused to stop for Gardaí and "drove recklessly' in order to avoid capture. While on patrol in Newbridge in Co Kildare, the Naas Roads Policing Unit spotted a young teenager driving an e-scooter travelling at speeds of up to 50kmh on the R445, despite the law stating that e-scooters must not exceed 20kmh. The teenager was apprehended by Gardaí and the e-scooter was seized. Photo: An Garda Síochána Kildare News in 90 Seconds - June 21st Additionally, e-scooters can only be driven by those aged 16 years and over and must not be fitted with a saddle. The 13-year-old driver of the e-scooter refused to stop for Gardaí and 'drove recklessly' in an attempt to avoid capture by Gardaí. The young teenager was finally apprehended by Gardaí and will now be dealt with under the Juvenile Diversion Programme, while the e-scooter was seized. "E-scooters are not toys, they are motorised vehicles and must be used responsibly,' said a Garda spokesperson. 'Misuse can lead to serious injury and legal consequences. "Let's work together to keep our roads safe.'
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Juveniles responsible for more burglaries, robberies and assaults in 2023, says Garda report
Burglaries committed by juveniles soared by over 40% in 2023, figures show. Garda statistics also reveal substantial increases in drink-driving, robbery, traffic offences and assaults by children aged between 12 and 17. In addition, there were significant rises in fraud and theft offences by minors and a smaller increase in sexual offences, which followed a huge increase in sex crimes the previous year. The Garda Diversion Report for 2023 shows there was a slight (1%) increase in referrals to the Juvenile Diversion Programme in 2023, to 15,813. A third of these offences were carried out by children deemed 'unsuitable' for the programme – an increase of 10% on 2022. It translates to around 1,200 children – accounting for 15% of all children referred, but 33% of all offences. These juveniles are referred back to their local garda station for prosecution in the criminal courts. Children can be admitted to the programme – which diverts juveniles away from the criminal justice system - as long as they accept responsibility for their crimes and where admittance is in the best interest of society and the victim. The figures show a significant increase in crimes against the person – from robbery (which includes either violence or threat of violence) to assault – as well as property crimes. Two areas showing the greatest increases are burglary and related motoring offences – driving under the influence of drink/drugs and traffic offences, including dangerous driving. A breakdown of the offences show: Burglary offences jumped by 43%, from 450 to 643 (including 12 cases of aggravated burglary - involving violence or threat of violence); Driving under the influence of drink/drugs rose by 18%, from 38 to 45; Robbery offences increased by 9%, from 215 to 235; Traffic offences rose by 8.5%, from 1,506 to 1,634 (including 390 cases of dangerous driving and 12 cases of dangerous driving causing death or serious bodily harm); Assaults rose by 7%, from 1,486 to 1,588 Fraud/economic crime offences increased by 6%, from 358 to 379; Theft offences rose by 5%, from 4,719 to 4,971 (with theft from shops accounting for almost 70% of incidents) There were also increases in criminal damage (+4.5% to 1,396), sexual offences (+3%, to 452) and homicide offences (+1% to 87). There were significant decreases in drugs offences (-14.6%), weapons offences (-14%) and public order offences (-13%). The report did state that a drugs working group had been established to 'identify and address causes of delays' for referrals for drug-related offences, which have dropped from 1,927 in 2021, to 1,881 in 2022 to 1,607 in 2023. The report noted a drop of 45% in the number of restorative justice cautions. Read More 65,000 reported domestic violence incidents in 2024
