CRIME FELL 8 per cent in the first three months of the year despite increases in many serious offences including rape, drugs and gun crime, new Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures have revealed.
Decreases in the incidence of public order, theft and property-related offences has driven much of the fall in total crime in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period last year.
Gangland shootings account for 10 of the 14 murders committed in the first quarter; one killing higher than the same period last year.
Murder attempts and murder threats have also stayed at virtually identical levels, with 54 cases in the first quarter of 2009 compared with 53 cases in the previous corresponding period.
Drugs offences have increased by 5 per cent to 5,503 cases. However the importation of drugs has fallen by 10 per cent to 18 cases, and the possession of drugs for sale or supply has decreased by 15 per cent to 952 cases.
The possession of drugs for personal use has jumped by 10 per cent to 4,286 cases.
Public order offences were down 13 per cent to 13,434 cases. Discharging and possession of firearms were both up by just over 4 per cent to 72 and 100 cases respectively.
Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern welcomed the CSO data, saying he was “encouraged” by the overall fall in crime. The fact crime was down was evidence that Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy was very effectively deploying the resources available to him. “While there was a minimal increase in the number of murders in the quarter, I am aware that the majority of these were carried out with firearms, which is a characteristic of gang-related murders,” he said.
“I am concerned at the level of serious crime for which organised crime is responsible, and I am continuing to work on strong legislative responses.”
He said the new Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill, which was introduced in the Dáil on Wednesday, would help gardaí tackle gangland crime in that surveillance gathered covertly would for the first time be used as evidence in court cases. Work was also being done to tighten legislation around knife crime and a de facto ban on handguns had also been introduced.
Mr Ahern said the increase in the number of people detected driving under the influence of drugs – up 26 per cent to 164 cases – followed a Garda clampdown on drug-driving which he said was not only illegal but very dangerous for other road users.
The number of motorists detected drink-driving in the first three months of the year fell by 20.5 per cent to 3,838. Senior gardaí believe the introduction of random breath tests at Garda checkpoints has gradually changed the culture of drink driving in recent years.
The number of sex offences recorded in the first quarter fell by 29 per cent to 312 cases. However, within that category rapes were up 26 per cent to 102 recorded cases.
Kidnapping, abduction and false imprisonment cases increased by 72 per cent to 31.
Robbery, extortion and hijackings were up 3 per cent to 679 cases. Robberies of an establishment or institutions, including banks, were up 23 per cent to 328 cases. Robbery of cash and goods in transit – including from security vans delivering money to ATMs – rose from four cases to five. Robbery from the person was down 12 per cent to 316 cases.
Burglaries were down 4 per cent to 251 cases despite expectations they would increase as the economy worsened. Aggravated burglaries, where a weapon or threat of a weapon is used, increased by 15 per cent to 93 cases. Theft offences were down 3 per cent and public order offences fell 13 per cent to 13,434 cases.