Robberies up by a third but murders and gun offences fall

THE NUMBER of robberies, extortion and hijacking offences carried out in Ireland rose by a third in the second quarter of 2010, according to new data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

There were also notable increases in recorded kidnappings and sexual offences but a decline in the number of murders, drugs offences and gun-related crimes.

During the second quarter, robbery, extortion and hijacking offences rose by 33.9 per cent from 575 to 770. There were 1,659 recorded offences of robbery against individuals, a rise of 37.4 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2009.

The most notable rise was in the number of sexual offences which increased by 52.3 per cent, from 384 to 585. Non-aggravated sexual assault offences rose 40 per cent from 864 to 1,211, while rapes were up 16 per cent.

However, the increase in sex-related crimes was largely due to a widespread review of cases reported to the Garda which led to old offences being reclassified.

The latest figures show an 18 per cent decline in the number of murder and manslaughter offences committed in the quarter, with 13 deaths, compared to 10 for the second quarter of 2009. On an annual basis, there was a 12.7 per cent decrease in murders and manslaughters, from 63 to 55 for the 12-month period ending June 30th.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern welcomed the reductions shown in many categories, particularly the decrease in murders. But, he expressed concern at the rise in robbery and related offences which he said were “extremely distressing for victims”.

According to the data, harassment and related offences fell from 637 to 494 between the second quarter of 2009 and the corresponding quarter of this year. However, recorded murder threats rose by 76.3 per cent from 55 to 92.

There was a 13 per cent rise in kidnappings during the quarter under review, and an 18 per cent increase on an annualised basis. Abductions involving minors more than doubled over the 12 months to the end of June from 9 to 19.

In the second quarter, there were 6,224 recorded burglary offences, down by 0.2 per cent. Recorded dangerous or negligent acts felt by almost a quarter to 3,213, mainly due to a decline in drink driving offences, which fell by 22.8 per cent.

Incidents of theft fell by 0.7 per cent during the second quarter while incidents involving weapons and explosives rose by 7 per cent, compared with the same period a year earlier. Arson offences decreased by over 10 per cent from 782 in to 698.

During the quarter there were 5,438 recorded controlled drug offences, a decrease of 6.1 per cent on the second quarter of 2009.

There were 1,165 recorded fraud and deception offences reported during the three-month period under review down 10.9 per cent.

Fine Gael said the “shocking” rise in robberies showed that Ireland had become a far more dangerous place after 13 years of Fianna Fáil in power.

The Labour Party said the latest figures show that the overall crime rate remains “unacceptably high”.

“The increase of one-third in the number of robbery, hijacking and extortion offences is particularly worrying and would suggest that organised crime is turning more and more in this direction,” said the party’s justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte.

Crime statistics: how latest quarterly figures compare with 2009

770

Acts of robbery, extortion and hijacking offences (up 33.8%)

13

Murders and manslaughter offences (down 18.8%)

585

Sexual offences (up 52.3%)

24

Kidnapping and related offences (up 13.2%)

997

Weapons and explosives offences (up 7%)

105

Rape offences (up 16.7%)

5, 438

Controlled drug offences (down 6.1%)

92

Murder threats (up 67.3%)

6,224

Burglary offences (down 0.2%)

Source: CSO