Crime figures show rise in kidnappings, robberies and burglaries

There was a significant increase in the level of kidnappings, robberies and burglaries and extortion and hijacking in the five years to the end of 2012, an official review of Garda figures has revealed.

While some violent crime fell - reported murders and manslaughters were down 11 per cent over the period and attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences were down by 18 per cent - other types of crime spiked.

Analysis of the Garda intelligence system Pulse revealed that the number of drug offences was down 30 per cent while the amount of offences related to dangerous weapons and explosives fell by 30 per cent.

But a number of headline crime categories saw significant increases including kidnappings up 31 per cent, robbery, extortion and hijacking offences up 23 per cent and burglary and related offences up 14 per cent.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures also noted a spike in the level of sexual offences recorded, up 51 per cent between 2008 and 2012, but this is explained by gardaí reviewing cases, many of which are historic and the crime being recorded at the time it is reported rather than the date it occurred.

The several statutory inquiries into clerical abuse may also have a part to play in the increased reporting.

Publishing the figures today, the CSO noted that the absolute number of offences varied widely from group to group and said this must be borne in mind when interpreting percentage change and making comparisons between groups.

“ For example, in 2012 there were 79 homicide offences and 76,405 Theft and related offences. The same level of percentage in each of these groups would represent vastly different numbers of recorded offences,”it said.

“The change apparent in any offence group over time can be caused by many different factors, including for example criminal behaviour, Garda activity, legislative changes and changes to the classification of particular offences.”

The crime review also revealed road traffic offences were down by 43 per cent over the period while fraud and deception was up 7 per cent, public order and other social code offences were down 29 per cent and offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime were down 29 per cent.

In 2012 there were 79 homicides - 60 murders, manslaughters or cases of infanticide and 19 cases of dangerous driving leading to death - up from 66 the previous year but a fall from a high of 89 in 2008.

The Garda has recorded 61 of the 2012 offences as detected meaning court proceedings have at least been initiated.

In the areas of crime which saw a significant increase the CSO report revealed that it had records of 101 kidnapping or related offences in 2012, a slight fall on the previous year, but up from 77 in 2008.

Of the 101 offences, 67 were for false imprisonment and 18 involved the abduction of someone under 16 and the rest were linked to cases of human trafficking.

There were 2,817 robbery, extortion and hijacking offences recorded in 2012 compared with 2,299 in 2008.

Figures for reported robberies jumped from 2,161 to 2,679 in that period while extortion offences went from 22 to 40 and hijackings fell from 116 to 98.

Almost 8 per cent of criminals convicted for offences in the robbery, extortion and hijacking category were under 18, the report said.

Further details showed that the worst rate for robbery was in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, which recorded 146.3 offences per 100,000 people.

There were 28,133 burglary and related offences recorded in 2012 - a small increase on the previous year but a significant jump from the 24,682 reported in 2008.

The CSO said only a small percentage were aggravated, 325 in 2008 which fell to 283 in 2012. On sexual offences the review showed in 2008 there were 1,406 records of rapes, paedophilia and assaults compared with 2,117 in 2012.

Acting Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan said the 2012 showed that reductions in crime rates were achieved in many of the crime groups such as homicide, theft, assaults, damage to property, controlled drugs, and public order between 2008 and 2012.

“In total, reductions in nine of the 15 crime groups were achieved during this time. This demonstrated An Garda Síochána’s focus on keeping our communities safe and tackling crime in all its forms,” she said.

She said the force “proactively monitors emerging crime trends and patterns, and operations are constantly assessed and reviewed to ensure that targeted and co-ordinated measures are put in place”.

“For example, following an increase in burglary and related offences, Operation Fiacla, which is a national, multi-unit operation targeting travelling burglary gangs, was introduced and the latest figures from the CSO (Q3 2013) show a 10.9 per cent decrease in burglary and related offences.”

The acting commissioner said An Garda Síochána’s primary focus had always been on preventing crimes from taking place, “but when they do occur we ensure that all relevant resources are utilised to help bring those behind them to justice”.

She also noted the CSO report stated that over the long term, detection rates for the majority of offences were quite stable.

Additional reporting: PA