Latest Crime Statistics Show 33% Fall In Homicide Offences

Homicide offences have fallen 33% in the third quarter of 2019, according to the latest Crime Statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The decrease is said to be in part due to a significant reduction in instances of dangerous driving leading to death; and in part due to a decrease of 17% in instances of murder.

Responding to these figures, Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, said: "The increase in threats and attempts to murder demonstrate again the challenges we face in tackling criminality and organised criminality. I commend the ongoing work of An Garda Síochána in addressing these challenges and welcome the successes which their intelligence-led approaches are delivering. In that context, I welcome the reduction in homicide and related offices this quarter."

Minister Flanagan welcomed the reduction in burglaries and related offences, which decreased by 6.3% this Quarter, continuing a downward trend in recent years.

Minister Flanagan continued: "I appreciate how traumatic and invasive the experience of a burglary can be, as well as the fear that they can generate for members of our communities, especially in rural areas. In that context I particularly welcome the ongoing reduction in burglaries - nationwide, they have reduced by approximately 42% since 2015. I commend the targeted action of An Garda Síochána to address these crimes, particularly through Operation Thor."

Noting the ongoing Winter Phase of Operation Thor, Minister Flanagan said: "International evidence shows a surge in burglaries in the winter months. We are now in the 5th year of implementation of a Winter Phase of Operation Thor. This operation includes crime trend analysis to identify burglary hot-spots, targeting of organised crime gangs and prolific offenders, enhanced covert surveillance and high visibility checkpoints and roads policing to limit the use of the road network by offenders. This targeted and intensive work is bringing positive results."

Minister Flanagan continued: "But in addition to this targeted policing, strengthening community engagement can play a key role in providing reassurance to the public and deterring crime. I welcome the proactive anti-burglary campaign 'Lock up, Light up', currently being run by Gardaí as well as their ongoing community engagement nationwide.

"I am grateful to community-based organisations including the IFA, Neighbourhood Watch, Munitir na Tire and Crimestoppers for their partnership with Gardaí in this regard to prevent crime; and to communities who do so through schemes such as Neighbourhood Watch, TextAlert and Community Alert."

(MH/CM)