Children as young as 10 are being groomed for the drugs trade in the Dublin South Central area.
A new report into criminal networks in areas between the Liberties and Walkinstown has found many of the children used as runners and carriers are considered "expendable" but "plentiful" by senior crime figures.
“Building Community Resilience” examined the organisation, pervasiveness and impact of criminal and anti-social behaviour on communities in the district, which covers Ballyfermot-Drimnagh and the South West Inner City.
The report also highlighted that less than 2 percent of those aged between 12 and 40 are involved in crime.
But author of the research, Dr. Johnny Connolly, says their actions have a large impact on the entire community:
"People are not willing to report, they're not willing to engage, sometimes its because of fear, sometimes its because they just don't believe there's any poin.t"
He says it leads to a normalisation of the behaviour, which Dr Connolly says is extremely problematic.
The research forms the evidential basis for a new strategy developed by the South City Local Policing Forums.
The aim is to respond, not just to the criminality, but also to the needs of the families and neighbourhoods.
