Vice crime online a growing problem, say local gardaí

The growing use of social media for drug dealing and other illegal activity such as prostitution is a challenge for law enforcement, a senior garda said at the recent meeting of Westmeath’s Joint Policing Committee (JPC).

Speaking at the meeting, community JPC member Dave Raftis said that there were “genuine concerns” among parents about the increased use of social media for criminal activity.

Cllr Sorca Clarke also asked what resources local gardaí had for catching those who use social media platforms to commit crimes.

Chief Superintendent Peter Duff said that the divisional drugs unit and detective units in Mullingar and Athlone engage in covert policing operations covering a wide range of issues including the increasing use of social media for criminal purposes.

A divisional liaison officer also works with the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau, which is playing an increasingly important role in many investigations.

Chief Superintendent Duff said: “When we do a search now, the number of computer media, tablets, laptops and phones we seize is quite high compared to five years ago.

“The cyber crime bureau have got their waiting list down from four years down to about a year.”

With the increased use of social media, the importance of the cyber crime unit has risen significantly in recent years, the chief superintendent said. “Every police force has to keep abreast of technology. It’s a simple as that.

“There are issues in relation to the sale of drugs – there no point saying there’s not.”

Online drug deals are done through a digital third party, Chief Supt Duff said.

“You give the money to party A and you pick up the drugs on the other side of town from party B – which means the person buying the drugs and the person selling them are never in close proximity.

“It makes detection harder and it makes proving it harder as well.

“Like any aspect of technology or social change, the police service has to be on top of it.

“Sometimes we have to react to changes and sometimes we have to be proactive.”

Earlier this year, the Westmeath owner of a buy and sell website told the Westmeath Examiner of how drug dealers were attempting to sell their products on his platform, and his efforts to combat the phenomenon.