EU survey finds Ireland has highest crime rate

Ireland has the highest levels of "commmon crime" in the European Union, according to a study published in Brussels today.

The European Crime and Safety Survey (EU ICS) is the most comprehensive analysis of crime, security and safety ever conducted in the European Union. The survey reveals that the worst crime hotspots in the EU are Ireland, the UK, Estonia, the Netherlands and Denmark.

According to the survey, which was conducted by Gallup, some 22 per cent of the Irish population claim to have been the victim of crime.

It found Ireland has the highest level of assaults with violence, sexual assaults and robberies in EU and the Irish feel the most victimised by crime.

The risk of theft from the person in Ireland is double the EU average, with some 7 per cent saying they had been the victim of such a crime.

Ireland also has the third-highest rate of burglaries in the EU. Levels of "self-protection", such as alarms and special door locks, have risen "considerably" in Ireland in the last decade.

There is a higher-than-average risk of theft from cars here and Ireland is one of only three EU countries - alongside the UK and Estonia - to be above the EU average for pickpocketing and personal theft.

Some 35 per cent of  people in Ireland favour imprisonment for persistent offenders rather than community service orders. The EU average is 23 per cent.

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of reporting crime. Despite this, Irish people report a high level of satisfaction with the action taken once the crime is reported to the gardaí.

The survey compared levels of crime and analysed the EU citizens' views and concerns about crime -independent of police records. It says levels of common crime have fallen significantly over the past decade  in the EU countries. Overall, 15 per cent of EU citizens were victims of "common crime" in 2004, compared with a 1995 peak of 21 per cent.

The study also reveals that nearly one third of EU citizens are afraid of burglary and do not feel safe on the streets.

Labour party spokesman on European Affairs Joe Costello said the survey painted an accurate if bleak picture of life in 21 ^stcentury Ireland.

"The fact that the survey is based on people's own experience of crime, rather than on Garda statistics, really means that Michael McDowell should sit up and pay attention and stop burying his head in the sand," he said.

Mr Costelloe said it was time Mr McDowell accepted responsibility for the failure of the Government to get to grips with crime.

"Hardworking families are entitled to live in peaceful law-abiding communities. Changes in the manning, deploying and organisation of the Garda Siochana would have a huge positive impact on people's quality of life and on the rates of crime and anti-social behaviour," he said.

"Labour in Govt will triple the number of Community Gardai within 3 years. This will amount to an increase from approximately 500 at present to 1500 by 2010," he added.