Encouraging Trend In Crime Figures Welcomed

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) today published the recorded crime statistics for the second quarter of 2011.

Speaking on publication, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr Alan Shatter, welcomed the decreases in all of the 14 crime groups, compared with the same quarter in 2010.

Minister Shatter said: “The reduction in all categories of recorded crime in the last quarter is very encouraging. While the figures show that the Garda strategies in place to prevent and combat crime are working, both the Garda Commissioner and I are determined that they will not lead to any complacency on our part. The public finances and the resources we have available are under severe pressure. It is vital that we continue to use them to maximum effect.”

Of particular note in the statistics are the reductions in homicide and sexual offences. The number of homicide offences in the quarter is down by 39.1% and on an annualised basis down by 14.3%. This results from the number of murders being down a quarter, and the number of cases of dangerous driving leading to death being down more than half (60%).

The reduction of 37.6% in sexual offences is also encouraging. This reduction is spread across a wide range of such offences. As the CSO points out, there was an increase in such offences in 2010, as a result of offences occurring in years prior to 2010 being recorded in that year.

However, the Minister has expressed concern that it appears as if a significant number of sexual offences reported to organisations such as the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, who provide support to the alleged victims of such crimes, are not being reported to An Garda Síochána. The Minister is

therefore going to undertake consultations about this important issue in September.

Minister Shatter added: “I welcome completion yesterday of the passage through the Oireachtas of the Criminal Justice Bill and the Criminal Justice Bill. The Criminal Justice Bill will provide vital assistance to the Gardaí in current investigations into white collar crimes and future investigations which may be undertaken. The Community Service Bill is intended to bring about a greater use of Community Service Orders to the benefit of local communities and to save taxpayers’ money in terms of prison costs incurred in respect of short terms of imprisonment.”

(BMcN)