Crimes against the person are on the increase in Ireland, according to Victim Support.
The group, which helps and counsels victims of crime, said today that over 35 per cent of crimes reported to them in 2002 were of a personal nature such as assault, robbery, crime at work and theft.
Victim Support was contacted by 4,861 in 2002. The highest number of male assaults - 200 - were against young males in the 17-25 age category.
The group also recorded that 59 per cent of calls it received were from females while 41 per cent were from males.
Last year, a Garda-commissioned survey into public attitudes on crime found that 94 per cent of victims of crime were unaware that the Victim Support group existed.
Victim Support signed a partnership agreement with the Garda earlier today to support the rights of victims of crime.