Following the publication of the fifth Review of the Quality of Crime Statistics in October 2023, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has lifted the 'Under Reservation' categorisation around Recorded Crime Statistics. This is possible because An Garda Síochána have introduced a range of quality measures over the last number of years which have resulted in sustained improvement in the quality of the underlying crime data. These changes give a level of assurance to users that they can rely on Recorded Crime Statistics.
For further information see our Lifting of Under Reservation categorisation for Recorded Crime Statistics FAQ page.
Table 4.1 provides further breakdown by offence type of the total number of recorded crime incidents in the year to Q1 2024 compared with the year to Q1 2023.
There were 70 recorded incidents of Homicide & Related offences in the year to Q1 2024 and this was down 6 or 8% from the same period in 2023. Incidents of Murder accounted for all of this change, falling by 12 or 26% over the year.
The number of recorded crime incidents of Dangerous or Negligent Acts fell by 469 or 6% over the year. A fall of 471 or 9% in the number of incidents of Driving/in charge or a Vehicle While Over Legal Alcohol Limit accounted for almost all of this change.
Recorded crime incidents of Robbery, Extortion & Hijacking offences rose by 390 or 18% over the year and this was driven by increases in incidents of Blackmail or Extortion (+179 or +28%) and Robbery from the Person (+156 or +16%).
Increases in incidents of Theft from Shop (+2,801 or 10%) accounted for over two fifths (44%) of the overall increase of 6,415 or 9% in the number of incidents of Theft & Related offences between the year to Q1 2024 and twelve months earlier. There were also increases in the number of incidents of Other Thefts & Handling Stolen Property offences (+1,305 or +4%) and Theft/Taking of Vehicle & Related offences (+1,183 or +18%). Recorded incidents of Theft from Person rose by 1,126 or 39% over the year.
The number of incidents of Controlled Drug offences fell by 740 or 4% to 16,874 in the year to Q1 2024 compared with twelve months earlier. A reduction of 885 or 7% in incidents of Possession of Drugs for Personal Use accounted for most of this change.
Finally, a fall of 2,071 or 13% in the number of recorded incidents of Offences While in Custody and Breach of Court Orders accounted for most of the fall of 2,610 or 16% in incidents of Offences against Government, Justice Procedures & Organisation of Crime in the year to Q1 2024 compared to a year earlier.
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