The number of murder and manslaughter incidents has risen by almost 27 per cent in 12 months, according to crime statistics released this morning.
In the 12-months to the end of March 2008, there were 85 incidents of murder or manslaughter compared with 67 incidents in the same period ending in 2007.
However, the number of these incidents fell be almost half in the first quarter of 2008, from 33 to 17, compared to the first quarter of 2007.
The quarterly figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that the number murder threats has increased by more than 73 per cent in the same period.
The number of sexual offences fell by almost one third, from 386 in the first quarter of 2007 to 271 in first quarter of 2008. The largest change was in sexual assault, which fell by 28.6 per cent (from 231 to 165) over the period.
The number murder threats increased from 40 in the first quarter of 2007 to 56 in the first quarter of this year. The annualised total for these incidents in the period ending in the first quarter of 2008 was 177, an increase of 75 compared to the same period ending in the first quarter of 2007.
Harassment incidents rose from a total of 1,850, in the 12-month period ending in March 2007 to 2,283 for the corresponding period ending in March 2008, an increase of almost 25 per cent. There was an increase of 161 in firearms and explosives offences in the first three months of the year, compared to the same period in 2007.
Kidnapping and related offences fell from 25 to 20 in the first quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2007 and fell from 104 incidents to 82 incidents over 12 months.
The quarterly figure for robbery, extortion and hijacking offences rose by 15.2 per cent, from 572 in Q1 of 2007 to 659 in Q1 of 2008. This was mainly due to the 18.8 per cent increase in recorded incidents of robbery from the person, which increased from 303 to 360 over this period.
In the first three months of 2008, there were 6,703 recorded incidents of burglary, an increase of 837 (14.3 per cent ) on Q1 2007. The largest absolute increase was in the number of burglary, incidents which rose from 5,730 in Q1 2007 to 6,510 in Q1 2008, a rise of 13.6 per cent.
There was a slight increase in the number of thefts between quarter 1 of 2007 and quarter 1 of 2008. However, the annualised figure for theft from person fell by 499 (14.3%) from 3,493 to 2,994 in the 12-month period prior to the end of March.
There was a 28.1 per cent increase in the number of drugs offences, from 3,973 to 5,091, between Q1 2007 and Q1 2008. Most of this was due to the one-third increase, from 2,856 to 3,811, in Possession of drugs for personal use over this period.
Public order incidents rose from 13,801 to 14,893, an increase of 7.9%. The vast majority of these incidents were classed as “disorderly conduct, which rose from 11,418 in the first quarter of 2007 to 12,777 in the same period this year. This is equivalent to approximately 142 incidents a day.
Responding to the figures, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy highlighted the need for a “renewed partnership between gardaí and the community in tackling crimes such as burglary and theft.”
“The figures published by the CSO today show an increase in the crimes of burglary, theft and robbery which have a very real impact on the quality of life in our community,” he said in a statement.
“Gardaí will continue to target the people who are committing these crimes with intelligence-led, focused operations. Given that burglaries and thefts, in particular, are opportunistic crimes, we would appeal once again to people to take care of their property and not leave their homes and property vulnerable to criminals who are looking for an easy profit.”
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said the statistics have to be assessed against the background of an increasing population but said they "show progress across a range of areas but disturbing trends are also evident in relation to some forms of crime."
"It has to be remembered too that behind these statistics lie the stories of all too many people who have been the victims of crime. The overall picture the figures paint serves to reinforce the Government's determination to continue with its programme of providing unprecedented resources - both financial and legislative - for those in the front line fighting crime.”
Fine Gael’s justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan called for a review of Garda resources.
“Brian Lenihan was a serious disappointment as Minister for Justice, promising much but delivering little. There is no indication that Dermot Ahern will be any more effective,” he said.
“The Gardaí remain seriously under-resourced in their efforts to combat crime. Most counties do not even have the long-awaited digital radio network. Minister Ahern must move immediately to address gangland crime head on and provide gardaí with the resources they need,” he added.
Labour’s spokesman on justice, Pat Rabbitte, said the figures “paint a grim picture of the extent of our crime problem after a decade of Fianna Fail government.”
“I am particularly concerned with the significant increase in public order offences, which have jumped by 8 per cent in just one year,” he said.
“This figure bears out the anecdotal evidence that floods into the offices of public representatives across the country, relating to anti-social behaviour, vandalism and intimidation that happens on a daily basis at local level.”
