A 2 per cent drop in serious offences in 2003 are revealed in statistics released by the Department of Justice last night.
However, the provisional figures show that despite a falling murder rate last year, gun crime increased significantly in the final quarter of 2003.
Possession of firearms increased by 43 per cent compared with the final quarter of 2002, and there was a 12 per cent rise in shootings.
Despite drug seizures having more than doubled in 2003, to over €100 million, possession of drugs for supply or sale fell by 8 per cent, to 2,315 cases.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, welcomed the figures, saying the spiral of crime has been halted.
Mr McDowell particularly welcomed "the news that the number of violent deaths recorded in 2003 is down on the number for 2002 by a total of seven, from 59 to 52."
"In the reduced number of murders, for instance, are a number of vicious, drug-related, gang murders.
"The gardaí have made very significant progress in investigating those murders," he said in a statement.
He added that significant decreases were recorded in some of the most serious categories relating to crimes against the person. Assault causing harm was down 21 per cent. Rapes of females fell by 33 per cent and aggravated sexual assault was down by 54 per cent.
Mr McDowell added that the number of assaults causing harm had reduced for the fourth quarter in succession.
"The percentage reduction is 15 per cent, representing 141 fewer cases. The total reduction for the year 2003 is 21 per cent, or 1070 fewer cases."
The decrease in public order offences was attributable to the introduction of tougher licensing laws and new Garda powers, Mr McDowell said.
An expert group will report to the Minister next month on the accuracy of the Garda figures and the relationship between reported crime and the level of crime actually committed.
Despite the fall in detected headline offences, Opposition parties said the latest figures did not reflect the reality of the State's crime.
Labour's spokesman on justice, Mr Joe Costello, said the overall reduction should "merit an extremely cautious welcome.
"This is a minor fall on what were appalling figures of a 22 per cent increase in 2002 and an 18 per cent increase for the previous year.
"Moreover, almost 300 murders, manslaughters, assaults, rapes, or sexual assaults occur in Ireland every day.
"The increase of 9 per cent in home burglaries and the increase in 4 per cent in thefts from the person are particularly worrying to the ordinary citizen."
Fine Gael's spokesperson on justice, Mr John Deasy, said he does not believe the crime situation has improved.
"Rape crimes, for example, are down according to the statistics, but professionals dealing with victims of this crime will state the exact opposite.
"To say that these figures indicate that the upward spiral of crime has halted is incorrect.
"The reality is that large numbers of people simply don't report crimes any more."
