Kidnappings, rapes, robberies rise

The recorded number of kidnappings, burglaries and rapes rose in 2009 over the previous year, data released by the Central Statistics Office today show.

Offences grouped under the robbery, extortion and hijacking category increased by 23 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year, compared to the same period in 2008. The overall annual increase in this category was 8.1 per cent.

There were 26,783 burglaries and related offences recorded last year, an increase of 8.5 per cent. The annual increase in aggravated burglary offences was 11.7 per cent

compared with 2008, while robbery of an establishment or institution rose by 18 per cent in the same period.

There were a total of 55 cases of false imprisonment, an increase of 17 per cent, and 35 child abductions, representing a rise of 52 per cent. There were also 49 recorded cases of human trafficking last year, the figures show. The CSO said the overall rise in offences under this category was partly due to the introduction of new human trafficking offences last year.

Sexual offences, including rapes, sexual assaults and cases of having sex with minors, rose by 4.1 per cent year-on-year to 1,464. Rape offences rose by over 10 per cent, from 342 to 377, in the 12-month period.

Twelve murders or manslaughters were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2009, a decrease of 33.3 per cent over the same period in 2008. However, the overall number of such offences in 2009 was 80, a fall of nine on the previous year.

The number of incidences of dangerous driving causing death fell from 34 in 2008 to 25 last year, representing a 26.5 per cent reduction. The CSO said the fall may be, in part, due to the fact not all investigations into road deaths last year have concluded. It said the figure may rise.

The number of crimes under the attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences heading fell by 7.9 per cent last year to 17,635.

The number of assaults causing harm or poisonings fell from 3,850 in 2008 to 3,630 in 2009, a decrease of 5.7 per cent, while there was an annual decrease of 11.9 per cent in harassment offences. Assaults fell by 8 per cent from 12,337 in 2008 to 11,353 last year.

There was total annual decrease of 20.8 per cent – from 19,587 in 2008 to 15,509 in 2009 - of offences under the dangerous or negligent acts category. Such offences include driving causing serious harm, drunk or drug driving, child abuse or neglect, air rage and using unseaworthy vessels. Cases of drink-driving fell by 23 per cent to 13,821 in 2009 from 17,940 in 2008. However, there were 831 incidences of drug-driving recorded last year, an increase of 14 per cent.

Public order offences fell by 7.8 per cent, while drug crime was down by 6.3 per cent. Fraud was up by 9.6 per cent year-on-year, while weapons and explosives offences showed a marginal decrease of 0.2 per cent.

In total, nine of the 14 categories under which crimes are grouped show decreases last year.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the decrease underscored the Government’s commitment to tackling criminal activity.

While the number of thefts and related offences remained static in the year, Mr Ahern he said he was

concerned by the quarterly 2.2 per cent increase in such crimes. “Elderly people are subject to bogus callers to their homes. They must be vigilant but likewise we must do what we can to protect them. I have met with the Attorney General with regard to the issue of mandatory sentencing for such crimes. He has requested the Law Reform Commission to examine the issue.”

The Minister said he remains concerned at the level of unlawful killings. “Many are gang related which underlines the necessity of the tough legislation enacted last year and which is now being fully utilised by gardaí.”

Fine Gael’s justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said the rise in burglaries and related offences showed that more gardaí must be freed up from office duties to patrol the streets.

“Criminals are taking advantage of the absence of gardaí on the beat and the trend looks set to continue as we struggle through the current economic crisis,” he said. “The Government reaction to increased burglaries has been to cut Garda budgets and delay filling Garda vacancies.”

Labour’s justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte said the figures were a cause for concern against a background of cuts in the Garda budget and also call for more gardai on the beat.

“I accept that in the current grave economic situation, cutbacks in many areas are inevitable, including in the Department of Justice vote,” he said. “However this must be done in such a way as to ensure that cutbacks don’t contribute to a further growth in crime and leave communities even more vulnerable to criminals.”

Age Action welcomed Mr Ahern's statement that he is considering mandatory sentences for those convicted of attacks on older people but said the Government must go further to protect them.

"They need to provide adequate funding for home security measures for older people to prevent them being targeted in the first place," spokesman Eamon Timmins said. "We also need measures to build up communities so that older people do not feel as isolated and vulnerable."