E-scooters are being used for drug dealing and intimidation, Garda chief says
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has called for an outright ban on e-scooters in Ireland, citing their increasing use in drug dealing and community intimidation. Police report that the devices allow suspects to evade authorities easily in urban areas.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between the adoption of new urban micro-mobility technology and the challenges law enforcement faces in regulating their use for criminal activity.
E-scooters are “without a doubt” being used for drug dealing in the country’s urban centres, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has told the Oireachtas transport committee.
Kelly reiterated that he “absolutely” supports an outright ban on e-scooters, which are also “regularly” being used for drug-related intimidation, he said.
Speaking before the transport committee on Wednesday, the Garda Commissioner said e-scooters are being used in some areas “to terrorise local communities” with those travelling on them wearing masks or balaclavas.
The use of e-scooters is “relatively new”, Kelly told politicians, but there are “a lot of things that are really concerning” around their use.
E-scooters are being used to facilitate localised drug dealing in urban centres, he said. “I think if anyone is observant, particularly here in Dublin in the city centre, you can see it,” said Kelly.
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