Homicide rate up 18% but other crimes down

The homicide rate increased in the Republic last year though the overall decline in most crime types since the onset of recession has continued unabated, according to the newly published crime figures for 2012.

The number of homicides last year, at 78 cases, was 18 per cent higher than in 2012. However, aside from a two per cent increase in sexual offences and a three per cent rise in fraud a deception offences, all other crime categories showed a decrease except burglaries which increased marginally by 0.3 per cent.

The very slight increase in the burglary rate could be interpreted as positive news. It comes after a number of years in which burglaries bucked the overall falling crime trends by increasing significantly since the economic collapse of 2008.

Within the burglary category, virtually all of the increase in the figures last year is accounted for by the 18 per cent increase in cases of people caught in possession of articles, or tools, with intent to burgle.

The offence of burglary rose by 0.1 per cent. And despite much media attention being devoted to aggravated burglaries, where violence is used against houses holders - often elderly people – the crime of aggravated burglary decreased by 18 per cent last year.

Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter welcomed the new data, saying 10 of the 14 crime categories had shown decreases, with overall crime down by 5.5 per cent.

He believed the increased homicide rate had occurred mostly in the latter months of last year.

“The increase recorded during the last six months of 2012 reflects the consequences of gang warfare and I am pleased that charges are now pending in respect of a number of individuals.”

He pointed out that the fall in drug crime had come at a time when the value of drugs seized last year had reached €100 million.

“These statistics are a timely reminder of the excellent work being carried out day in day out by members of the force, of all ranks, under Commissioner Callinan’s leadership,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Minister added the reductions in crime had occurred in a year when 39 garda stations had closed, freeing up more members for frontline duties.

The latest data from the Central Statistics Office reveals those crime types associated most closely with organised crime have continued to decrease.

The number of controlled drugs offences recorded fell by a further 7 per cent last year, with rates now half of what they were when the economy was booming and high disposable incomes fed the expansion of the recreational drugs scene.

Weapons and explosives offences decreased further, by a significant 14 per cent last year. Within that heading is gun crime; with possession of a firearm falling by 16 per cent in 2012 and discharging of a firearm down by 12 per cent.

As gun crime and drugs offences continued to fall, other crimes linked with organised crime were also down or stable. Murder attempts, for example, were static at seven cases last year while murder threats fell by 33 per cent, but were still a significant 263 cases.

Within the overall increase of 2.2 per cent in sexual offences last year, rapes increased by six per cent, offences against mentally impaired people increased by 85 per cent to 24 cases, while those crimes categorised as sexual assaults increased by six per cent to 1,271 cases.

Most of the homicides committed last year were murders, with 54 carried out compared to 42 in 2011; an increase of 29 per cent. Manslaughters were up from three to six cases last year, while cases of dangerous driving leading to death fell from 21 to 18 cases.

Driving under the influence of alcohol fell again, this time by eight per cent to 8,253 cases. Drug driving fell by 38 per cent, to 271 cases. Gardai believe higher enforcement of road traffic legislation in recent years and greater awareness around the dangers of driving while intoxicated are driving the sustain falls in those crime types.

Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences were down by four per cent. However, within that category the crime of robbing cash or goods in transit had increased by a significant 26 per cent.

While thefts and related offences were down by almost one per cent, theft from the person has rocketed by 37 per cent, with 5,043 offences recorded last year. This crime includes pick pocketing.

Public order offences have also continued to fall; with many gardai believing reduced disposal incomes for funding excessive drinking has positively impacted this area in recent years. In 2012 cases of criminal damage were down by nine per cent and public order related offences were down by 11 per cent.