Provisional crime statistics to the end of June show vehicle theft is up 77% on last year and is also ten percent ahead of pre-pandemic levels, however it’s also 10% ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
Residential burglaries are up a third on the same period last year , but still remain well behind the figures for 2019, before the pandemic.
Sexual offences overall are down slightly, reported rape is up 21% on last year and 11% on 2019.
The figures also show there was an increase of 13% in the number of domestic violence incidents, attended by Gardai in the six months to the end of June.
• Residential Burglary +33% (2021) but remains down -38% (2019)
• Theft from Person +164% (2021) but remains down -46% (2019)
• Fraud Offences overall -2% (2021) but significant increases continue in Online Fraud such as Account Take Over Fraud (+128%), Accommodation Fraud (+58%). Bogus Tradesman Fraud (+81%) is also increasing.
• Theft/ UT of vehicles show significant increase +77% (2021) and +10% (2019)
• Sexual Offences Overall are down marginally -3% (2021) -1% (2019) but reported Rape has increased +23% (2021) +11% (2019)
• Crimes Against the Person overall +24% (2021) primarily due to increases in reported Assaults Causing Harm +34% (2021) +14% (2019)
• The quantity of Drug detections has reduced (Sale/ Supply -30% (2021) -10% (2019) but volume of Drugs seized is increasing (>€37million seized to 30th June 2022)
• Theft from Person +164% (2021) but remains down -46% (2019)
• Fraud Offences overall -2% (2021) but significant increases continue in Online Fraud such as Account Take Over Fraud (+128%), Accommodation Fraud (+58%). Bogus Tradesman Fraud (+81%) is also increasing.
• Theft/ UT of vehicles show significant increase +77% (2021) and +10% (2019)
• Sexual Offences Overall are down marginally -3% (2021) -1% (2019) but reported Rape has increased +23% (2021) +11% (2019)
• Crimes Against the Person overall +24% (2021) primarily due to increases in reported Assaults Causing Harm +34% (2021) +14% (2019)
• The quantity of Drug detections has reduced (Sale/ Supply -30% (2021) -10% (2019) but volume of Drugs seized is increasing (>€37million seized to 30th June 2022)
Domestic Violence – There has been a continued increase (+13%) on Domestic Abuse Incidents attended to by An Garda Síochána reported in the first half of 2022 compared with the first half of 2021. As of the 30th June 2022, 392 Gardaí (all ranks) are full time assigned to Divisional Protective Service Units nationwide.
Sexual Offences have been increasing since early 2015 and although having plateaued in 2020 this upward trend has resumed in 2021. Overall Sexual Offences are down marginally (-3%) for 1st half 2022.
• Sexual Assault -5% (2021) +2% (2019)
• Rape +23% (2021) +11% (2019)
• Child Pornography Offences -18% (2021) -25% (2019)
• Rape +23% (2021) +11% (2019)
• Child Pornography Offences -18% (2021) -25% (2019)
The increase in sexual offences figures may relate to a change in reporting behaviour whereby victims are increasingly likely to report sexual crime. Furthermore, ongoing efforts by An Garda Síochána regarding improvement of data quality and recording may be a contributing factor to the upward trend in recorded incidents of both Sexual Offences and Crimes against the Person in recent years. It therefore cannot be concluded that the increase in Sexual Offences (in recent years) is solely due to an increased level of incidents occurring.
Crimes Against the Person plateaued in 2020 following a gradual rise over the preceding 3 years. The reported level of crimes against the person was 4% higher in 2021.
• Murder * +7% (2021) +7% (2019)
• Murder – Attempt* -25% (2021) -68% (2019)
• Human Trafficking* -17% (2021) =% (2019)
• Harassment, Stalking, threats -5% (2021) +17% (2019)
• Assault Causing Harm +34% (2021) +14% (2019)
• Minor Assault +32% (2021) -1% (2019)
• Demanding Payment of Debt* +50% (2021) +280% (2019)
• Murder – Attempt* -25% (2021) -68% (2019)
• Human Trafficking* -17% (2021) =% (2019)
• Harassment, Stalking, threats -5% (2021) +17% (2019)
• Assault Causing Harm +34% (2021) +14% (2019)
• Minor Assault +32% (2021) -1% (2019)
• Demanding Payment of Debt* +50% (2021) +280% (2019)
*Based on low volumes so percentage change is liable to large variation.
Property Crime – The level of property crime has increased across nearly all crime types in the 1st half of 2022 compared to 2021, but generally remain down compared to 2019.
• Burglary +33% (2021) -38% (2019)
• Fraud Offences -2% (2021) +92% (2019)
• Theft/ UT of Vehicles +77% (2021) +10% (2019)
• Theft from Vehicle +17% (2021) -35% (2019)
• Theft from Person +165% (2021) -46% (2019)
• Robbery from Person +32% (2021) -27% (2019)
• Aggravated Burglary +2% (2021) -13% 2019)
• Theft of Pedal Cycles +15% (2021) -4% (2019)
• Blackmail/ Extortion Offences +32% (2021) +227% (2019)
• Fraud Offences -2% (2021) +92% (2019)
• Theft/ UT of Vehicles +77% (2021) +10% (2019)
• Theft from Vehicle +17% (2021) -35% (2019)
• Theft from Person +165% (2021) -46% (2019)
• Robbery from Person +32% (2021) -27% (2019)
• Aggravated Burglary +2% (2021) -13% 2019)
• Theft of Pedal Cycles +15% (2021) -4% (2019)
• Blackmail/ Extortion Offences +32% (2021) +227% (2019)
Burglary has increased in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 (+33%) but has trended significantly downwards over the long term. Major factors in this downward trend are the commencement of Operation Thor (November 2015) and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic (April 2022). When compared to 2019 (Jan – Jun), reported residential burglary in 2022 (Jan – Jun) was 36% lower and burglary elsewhere was 44% lower.
Operation THOR is a multi-strand approach to tackling burglaries with an emphasis on preventing the crime from happening in the first instance. Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. Operation THOR has successfully reduced the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property related crime since its introduction in 2015
Fraud Offences – Technology based fraud (Phishing, Account Take Over, Card Not Present, Online Shopping fraud etc..) increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic while most other types of fraud decreased during this time. In 2022 there has been a marked increase in Accommodation Fraud (+58%) and Bogus Tradesman Fraud (+81%).
Theft/ UT of Vehicles has seen a significant increase in 2022. A significant portion of this increase is related to thefts of second hand imported vehicles and the theft of electric scooters.
Criminal Damage incidents trended downwards from 2015 to 2018 and appeared to stabilise in 2019. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis there were signs of resumption of this downward trend. To date in 2022 Criminal Damage reports have increased +16% (2021) but -3% (2019).
Total Public Order (public order and drunkenness) incidents showed a gradual upwards trend starting in mid-2018 and, like other types of crime, has seen a reduction in 2020, which has caused this trend to plateau. Public Order Offences have increased in the 1st half of 2022 +20% (2021) but remain slightly lower -3% (2019) pre-covid.
