Statistics on crime at the midlands prison in Portlaoise could adversely affect the ability of Laois to attract investment into the county, the December meeting of Laois County Council heard.
Cllr Willie Aird had a motion before the meeting asking the council to request Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to write to Chief Superintendent John Scanlon to ensure that crimes that are associated with the midlands prison in Portlaoise are not reported as part of the crime list for Laois.
The issue was raised by Cllr Aird previously.
“There are a lot of incidents in the prison and it is totally unfair that they are included as Laois figures,” Cllr Aird said.
These incidents are “lumped in with what’s happening in Laois,” he said.
He said when they are looking for direct foreign investment, companies look into all records, he said.
False
Incidents are happening in the prison, such as drug confiscation, which are then “showing false figures and it looks as if it’s happening in county Laois”, Cllr Aird said.
“These statistics should be kept within the prison. Of course they should be published, but do not indicate that they are for Laois,” he said.
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