November 2010 Issue

• CityWide Conference Report
• Community Drug Problems – Community Responses
• Pat Carey, Minister for Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs
• Communities of Interest - Travelling Community
• Communities of Interest - New Communities
• Communities of Interest - Drug Users Forum
• Communities of Interest - Young LGBT people
• Communities of interest - Female sex workers
• Communities of Interest - Homeless
• Changing Patterns of Drug Use and Alcohol
• The Alcohol Strategy
• Brian Harvey - KEY NOTE SPEAKER
• Community Responses to Issues of Safety and Intimidation
• Intimidation of Families
• Local Response to Community Safety and Intimidation

CityWide Home » Newsletters » November 2010

Intimidation of Families

Megan O' Leary, Family Support Network

Megan carried out research on intimidation of families through the Family Support Network; here are some of her key findings:

• 30 family support services knew of debt related intimidation that originated from a debt worth €500 or less
• There was an even spread in the largest amount of debt that respondents were aware of. The most common amount was €10,000 - €20,000.
• The most common forms of repayment that drug users used included cash payment and/or dealing and cash payment and/or holding or hiding drugs
• Verbal threats (39), physical violence (33) and damage to home/property (33) are the most common forms of intimidation used
• The family members most likely to be targeted are the mothers (35), siblings (23) & fathers (21) of drug users
• Persons working for drug dealers normally collect the debt (32)

Levels of violence:

• Threatening Behaviour
• Personal Property
• Physical Violence
• Sexual Violence or Threats of Sexual Violence
• "Threatening behaviour to any of the residents committee members who may attempt to bring up the issue. Comments made, cars and property vandalised, their kids intimidated"
• Victims are too scared to report intimidation to the Gardai and do not trust them to do anything about it.
• Mothers whose children use drugs are most likely to be targeted

Action 5 of the National Drugs Strategy: "To develop a framework to provide an appropriate response to the issue of drug related intimidation in the community." Work is ongoing to:

• To provide a single point of contact.
• Ensure a confidential and effective means of dealing with intimidation.
• Provide families with sufficient support from An Garda Siochana
• A pilot project has been devised that will link Family Support with a Nominated Inspector and a liaison officer who will manage cases with families to tackle intimidation.

You can view Megan's powerpoint presentation here

Contact the Family Support Network: 16 Talbot Street, Dublin, Ireland. Phone: +353 (01) 8365 168. Phone: +353 (01) 874 7156. Email: info@fsn.ie Web: www.fsn.ie