Cork city is becoming a soft touch for organised crime gangs, a local Senator has claimed. Cork-based Senator Jerry Buttimer claimed last Wednesday's seizure of 750,000 counterfeit cigarettes in Carrignavar highlighted the increase of organised crime, which he said was "taking hold of the city". "The cold-blooded killing of a man in Cork last week, coupled with the swell in republican activity in the region and now a haul of 750,000 counterfeit cigarette and over 500kg of tobacco, with an estimated worth of €500,000, all clearly point to the fact that organised crime in Cork is on the up," said Senator Buttimer.

Customs officers searched a private residence in Carrignavar on Wednesday 27 January, where they seized 750,000 unstamped cigarettes, 525 kilos of tobacco, and two vehicles. "The rise in crime in the city must be curbed. If there is to be any hope of getting a handle on the situation gardai must be given the resources needed to tackle this downward spiral," he said.

Senator Buttimer said scanners should be introduced at airports and ports to curb the flow of drugs and contraband substances, while he said a dramatic overhaul of garda rostering should be engaged to reduce gardaí from administration work to be put back on the beat.

He added that garda vacancies must be immediately filled while he suggested that the number of community gardaí should be increased. "The impact of the Emergency Response Unit in Limerick and Dublin has seen criminal activity surge as gangs realise that Cork is becoming a soft touch.

"Cork must not allow these people to thrive in our city. We cannot become a target for criminal activity. The Garda Commissioner and the Minister must take a long hard look at what's happening in Cork. Our communities must not be forced to suffer as a consequence of Government inactivity," he said.

'Cork City is well policed'

A senior garda official told the Cork Independent this week that, in contrast to other cities, Cork's crime was "relatively normal for the size of it". "There are no gangland scenarios here in Cork, like you'd see in other cities. Cork City is well policed and, while is not without its difficulties, has a high rate of crime detection." The official said that the number of serious crime incidence had dropped by 11 per cent last year, compared with the 2008 figures.

Meanwhile, Cork South Central TD Michael McGrath has called on the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to boost the number of gardaí in Cork. Following the announcement of 170 garda promotions last week, Deputy McGrath pointed that the three garda divisions in Cork (Cork City, Cork West and Cork North) lost 19 garda officers at sergeant level and above during 2009.

The Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern TD advised Deputy McGrath that last year, Cork City and county had lost one chief superintendent, two superintendents, two inspectors and 14 sergeants.

According to Deputy McGrath, these vacancies arose due to retirements, and the vast majority of the vacancies remain unfilled. "At the end of 2009, there were eight positions unfilled in Cork City, six in Cork West and five in Cork North," he said.

"If this situation were allowed to continue, then I believe it would have a major impact on the capacity of the gardaí throughout Cork City and county to meet the growing challenges they face.

"We must ensure that the gardaí can put their best foot forward in the fight against crime, and this means that positions of leadership in the organisation cannot be left vacant for any longer," he said.

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