An estimated three-quarters of all crime committed in this State is not reported to the Garda and does not appear in official statistics. That does not mean we are a crime-ridden society or that our international record on lawlessness is poor. The great bulk of the population is law-abiding. But the under-reporting of crime has become a source of official complacency. Genuine concerns and fears are often ignored.
Some months ago, opinion poll findings indicated that crime was the principal cause of concern to citizens. The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, appointed a National Crime Council (NCC) to help the public gain a better understanding of the issues and to guide policy-makers.
Research conducted for the NCC by the Institute for Criminology in UCD has found that reported crime rates trebled between 1950 and 1998, fluctuating at different periods as society and the economy changed. A clear link exists between the health of an economy and the incidence of crime. During the past four and a half years, the Coalition Government has enjoyed rapid economic growth and falling rates of reported crime.
The collection of accurate statistics is hugely important in informing the public and in planning the development of a modern police force. The NCC takes the view that citizens' worries about crime may be linked to a lack of information and to unjustified expectations of becoming a victim. Because of that, it has recommended holding national crime victimisation surveys and participation in a similar international exercise; it also recommends alterations to the way in which the Garda compiles its statistics and the establishment of an independent expert group on crime statistics.
The recommendations may pose public relations problems for the Minister and for the Garda. The production of accurate figures, including figures on white collar and petty crime, could allow the opposition parties to create an impression of a sudden surge in lawlessness and of failure by the police.
Such a development could be damaging in an election year. In spite of that, Mr O'Donoghue has offered to give the proposals "full and early consideration". He is to be commended for that.