THERE HAS BEEN an increase in the number of burglaries and fraud-related cases in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2010.
According to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office, burglaries have increased by 8.5 per cent during the first quarter on the same period last year, while increases were also seen in cases of theft (+5.3 per cent) – as well as fraud and deception related offences (+4.2 per cent).
Public order and other social code offences were also up by 1.4 per cent.
The CSO figures show that, when comparing the 12 month period ending in Q1 2011 with that ending in Q1 2010, an increase of almost 20 per cent was observed in the number of cases of robbery, extortion and hijacking. A similar percentage decrease was observed in recorded dangerous or negligent acts (-19.4 per cent).
The number of homicides decreased from Q1 2010 to Q1 2011, with 13 murders recorded in the first quarter of this year. For the 12 month period ending in Q1 2011, there was a decrease of 13.1 per cent in the number of murder and manslaughter offences recorded, decreasing from 61 to 53, when compared with the same period ending in Q1 2010.
The number of recorded murder threats increased by 20 per cent, however assault and poisoning offences decreased.
There was a decrease of over 40 per cent in the number of sexual offences recorded in the first quarter of this year, however the CSO warns that the rise in the number of recorded sexual offences in 2010 was mainly due to an on-going review of all cases involving alleged sexual offences reported to the gardaí. The report notes that some of the offences had occurred at some distance in the past, but were represented on the date of reclassification.
Dangerous or negligent acts offences decreased by over 15 per cent – with offences relating to driving a vehicle while over legal alcohol limit accounting for 10.5 per cent of that fall.
There has been a fall in the number of recorded cases of extortion, kidnapping and hijacking offences, as well as weapons and explosives offences, when comparing Q1 2010 with Q1 2011. However the number of offensive weapons offences rose from 2,912 for the twelve-month period ending in Q1 2010 to 3,034 for the same period ending in Q1 2011, an increase of over 4 per cent. Fewer cases of controlled drugs offences were recorded, quarter on quarter (-12.3 per cent).
Recorded arson offences have risen slightly (+5.3 per cent), as have public order offences (1.4 per cent) – most notably cases of disorderly conduct.
There was a decrease of almost 30 per cent in relation to offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime.
Speaking on the publication of the CSO figures, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter welcomed the decrease crime in a number of areas, and commended the gadaí for their work.
Shatter said: “These figures show the results of Garda strategies and actions to combat crime. They also reflect the challenges which An Garda Síochána and our society face in the time ahead. The task now is to ensure that the resources which are available – and which are still significant – continue to be used as creatively and effectively as possible.”
He also said that he wished to acknowledge the action being taken by the gardaí to address “the scourge of the drug gangs”.
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