Fitzgerald calls for more action on sexual offences as latest crime figures released

More action needs to be carried out to tackle an increase in sexual offences in Ireland, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said.

Latest crime figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal a fall across most categories of crime in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year.

However, there was a four per cent increase in assaults and related offences, and a 13 per cent increase in sexual offences.

Commenting, Ms Fitzgerald said: “It is clear that we as a society cannot tolerate such crimes. More needs to be done and I am determined to meet this challenge head on.

“The passing of the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Bill is a priority for me in this Dáil session and the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, 2016 – 2021 which I launched earlier this year provides a framework for ongoing efforts to engage people in a positive way, so that we can challenge unacceptable behaviour and tackle sexual crimes as well as domestic violence.”

Ms Fitzgerald also welcomed the publication of the second CSO review of the Quality of Crime Statistics, showing significant progress on the classification of crime incidents and recording of detections.

She said: “I welcome the fact that the CSO conclude that the estimated impact of these issue on recorded crime is substantially less than was the case for the first review. I am determined that a strong focus remain on the need for improvements in this area.

“It will take time for the full effect of the upgrading Garda systems to be reflected in the Crime Statistics. The Government remains committed to supporting this work and this is underlined by the €205 million allocated under the Capital Plan 2016-2021.

“I welcome the fact that, while that work is under way, the CSO are in a position to continue to publish crime statistics. The need for improvements in this area should not detract from the comparative assessment of statistics which shows a real and significant reduction under a number of headings.”