Crime rate down in past year, gardai say

Provisional Garda figures for last year show the number of reported crimes has fallen substantially for the first time since the 1980s. However, while almost all crime was down last year, figures confirm there has been a 41 per cent increase in the number of rapes reported. The official crime figures for 1997, which will show detection and crime rates across the State, are not due to be published until March.

However, the provisional figures, seen by The Irish Times, show a drop in most types of crime last year, and a substantial drop in firearms offences.

The total number of reported crimes was at its lowest figure in seven years at 90,888, down almost 10 per cent on 1996, when the number of offences was 100,770.

The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said the decrease was the biggest single drop in 30 years and congratulated the Garda Commissioner and the force.

There were 304 rapes reported in 1997, compared to 216 in 1996, according to the figures. In October 43 rapes were reported and last month 34 were reported.

When these increased rape figures for the first 11 months of 1997 were revealed last month there was speculation that it reflected an increase in reporting the crime rather than an increase in rape.

The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, has commissioned the Garda Research Unit in Templemore to look into the incidence of rape since 1994. The Department of Justice is due to publish a separate discussion document on sexual offences within the next two months.

Firearms offences saw the largest drop last year, according to the figures. There were 51 per cent fewer aggravated burglaries using firearms, or 162 last year compared to 330 in 1996. Robberies using firearms were down by 40 per cent, with 91 such robberies reported last year compared to 161 in 1996.

The murder rate was down by 14 per cent, with 38 murder reports last year, compared to 44 in 1996. Ordinary burglaries dropped by 8 per cent, aggravated burglary other than firearms offences dropped by 26 per cent and other robberies were down by 23 per cent. There were six explosives offences last year, compared to five in 1996.

Larceny from people was down by 12 per cent, thefts from cars dropped by 22 per cent and shop larcenies fell by 9 per cent. Other larcenies were down 8 per cent and reports in the category of "all other crime" fell by 1 per cent.

Asked about the decrease the Assistant Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, said it was due to a number of factors, including the increased uniformed presence on the streets, new legislation and a higher detection rate. "We still have a lot of crime and we would like to see it reduced again next year."