Crime rises as review shows Garda underreported offending

Crime has begun to increase after years of decline, with almost half of all the main crime categories showing the number of recorded offences is rising.

However, the methodology upon which the figures are collated has been found to be problematic, calling into question the accuracy of all official crime data in the modern era.

The Garda and Central Statistics Office (CSO) have said while plans are being implemented to try to resolve the shortcomings, the process has not yet begun.

A review by the CSO of the reliability of the crime figures supplied by the Garda has found very significant shortcomings with how the force has been recording crime.

In some Garda divisions, 20 per cent of all crimes recorded were not captured on the Garda’s PULSE computerised database and so were never sent to the CSO to collate.

It means the Garda figures have been underestimating crime for years.

The revelation follows a report by the Garda Inspectorate last year which expressed serious concern at the way in which the Garda was recategorising crimes.

Many recorded offences were being recategorised so they were recorded as less serious offences. In some cases what began as recorded crimes were reclassified into areas not regarded as crimes at all.

Because of these issues, the Central Statistics Office last summer suspended the release of any further crime data until it investigated the problems.

It recommenced publishing crime data on Tuesday, covering the 12-month period to the end of Mrach.

Burglaries increased by eight per cent in the 12 months to the end of March; with a range of Garda initiatives to catch gangs clearly not deterring many criminals.

Assaults, murder attempts and related offences also increased, up eight per cent in the same period.

Sexual offences increased by three per cent, kidnapping and related offences were up by 2.4 per cent, theft and related offences increased by 1.3 per cent and fraud and deception based offences were up by 1.7 per cent.

However, while the crime trends had declined in other areas; the fact so many crime categories had seen an increase in recorded offending is a significant development.

Recorded crime, especially drug related and alcohol-fuelled crime such as public disorder, had been falling since the economy peaked.

The data released on Tuesday by the Central Statistics Office suggest as the economy begins to recover, recorded crime is on the again.

Whether the rise in some offending is sustained will only become clear as the year progresses, with another six to 12 months worth of crime data needed for proof that a long-term pattern has emerged.