Latest crime figures show increase across most categories

The CSO’s crime statistics continue to be publisher “under reservation” as announced in March, whereby crime figures will be published in spite of ongoing issues with data quality.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: “While the CSO figures released today remain ‘under reservation’, I am confident that the work being done by An Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the CSO and the Policing Authority, will soon return the recorded crime statistics to the higher standard expected of our crime statistics.”

The latest crime statistics show a steep 17.2 per cent fall in homicide offences compared to the previous year, but increases across all other categories, including kidnapping offences (up 16.1 per cent), fraud and deception offences (up 15.9 per cent), robbery, extortion and hijacking offences (up 15.9 per cent), and sex offences (up 14.7 per cent).

Mr Flanagan reiterated the Government’s plan to strengthen sentencing for repeat sexual offenders in response to the figures.

He added: “However, I would make the point that an increase in recorded incidents of sexual assault can also indicate an increase in the reporting of sexual crimes, and I would continue to encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to come forward and report the incident to An Garda Síochána.”