Gardaí seize 175 scramblers, e-scooters, and quadbikes in March and April
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Gardaí in Dublin have seized more than twice the amount of scrambler bikes and e-scooters in the last two months than in all of 2023, new figures show.
It follows dedicated operations across three of the six divisions in Dublin, which, along with confiscating assorted motorbikes also seized large amounts of cash, designer watches and an array of dangerous weapons, including a meat cleaver and an axe.
The Garda operations follow the commencement, in July 2023, of the Road Traffic and Roads Act, which provides gardaí with new search-and-seizure powers of scramblers, quad bikes and e-scooters.
In her May report to the Dublin City Joint Policing Committee, Assistant Commissioner for Dublin, Angela Willis, also said a new operation had started to combat public drinking and related public order issues over the summer months.
Ms Willis said Operation Irene, running from May 1 to September 1, would target public "hot spots", prevent the supply of alcohol to juveniles and visit licensed premises.
The Dublin Garda boss said this would be her last report to the JPC, as it is set to be replaced by the Dublin Community Safety Partnership, as provided for under legislation.
The new partnerships, which stemmed from recommendations in the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland report, published in September 2018, are contained in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
“The partnerships will have a wider membership than JPCs and will include residents, local councillors, community representatives (including representatives of young people, older people, new and minority communities), business and education representatives and a range of public services including the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the local authority,” Ms Willis said.
She said 175 scramblers, e-scooters, quadbikes and other motorbikes were seized in March and April, compared to 75 in 2023.
In a massive operation in Dublin South on April 9, 40 search warrants were executed, leading to the seizure of 37 assorted bikes, along with a jet-ski, almost €43,000 in cash, as well as designer watches and €25,000-worth of other designer goods.
On April 16, 44 searches were carried out in Dublin West resulting in the seizure of 26 assorted motorbikes, five cars and an array of weapons, including an axe, a baseball bat, a meat cleaver, three knives and a bolt-action rifle.
On April 25, a major operation was conducted in Dublin North, leading to the seizure of €180,000 worth of drugs and five charges for dealing being brought.
Three horses were taken from Darndale area on welfare grounds.
Ms Willis pointed out that on May 20 the Road Traffic (Electric Scooters) Regulation was implemented, prohibiting their use by children under 16 years in public and set the ordinary speed limit to 20km an hour.
She said there were 220 recorded e-scooter collisions in 2023, resulting in 54 serious or fatal injuries.
Ms Willis said since the start of the year, up to May 15, an estimated €26m worth of drugs had been seized in the region and €3.5m in cash.
A total of 12,500 searches had been carried out and more than 40,000 patrols.
Some 20 firearms had been seized, along with 192 rounds of ammunition and 54 imitation firearms.
More than 11,000 people had been arrested and some 42,000 charges brought.
Almost 2,000 juvenile referrals had been made to the Juvenile Liaison Scheme for offending.