Recorded Crime Q3 2020

The continued impact of COVID-19 on crime trends is reflected in Recorded Crime statistics for Q3 2020. The total number of recorded crimes for the year ending September 2020 has fallen sharply in the categories of Burglary and related offences (down by 3,385, or 20.4%), Theft and related offences (down by 12,183, or 17.7%) and Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences (down by 281, or 12%), when compared with the previous 12-month period. See Table 1.1.

There have also been notable decreases in the numbers of crime incidents classified as Sexual offences (-12%), Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences (-7.9%), Damage to property and to the environment (-9.4%) and Public order and other social code offences (-7.7%). By contrast crime incidents classified as Controlled drug offences increased by 1,818 (+8.7%) in the year to Q3 2020, and Weapons and explosives offences also rose, up 332 (+12.3%).

Homicide and related offences rose by 5 in the year to Q3 2020 compared with the previous year. However some care should be taken when interpreting this as the more recent figure may rise as investigations into fatal road traffic collisions conclude. The number of incidents of Murder or Manslaughter increased by one over the year. Further breakdown of the data in Table 1.1 is provided in Chapter 3.

It is important to stress that the figures in Table 1.1 reflect the twelve months to the end of September 2020 compared to the corresponding period to the end of September 2019. Supplementary tables are included later in this chapter comparing figures from Q3 2020 alone with the corresponding period in 2019. See Tables 1.2 and 1.3.

Not included in the statistical tables are breaches of COVID-19 regulations which were classified as crime incidents by An Garda Síochána. In the period from July to September 2020, these incidents included breaches of regulations relating to licensed premises, wearing of face coverings and international travel. During Q3 2020 there were 271 such incidents. The CSO continues to engage with An Garda Síochána regarding the nature of these incidents, with a view to classifying them appropriately in future publications.

Recorded crime levels in Q3 2020 continued to be impacted by the national response to COVID-19. While domestic travel restrictions were largely lifted by the beginning of Q3, other influences have resulted in continued reductions in levels of some types of recorded crime. These influences may include the closure of many licenced premises, restrictions on gatherings, cultural and sporting events, and periodic local lockdowns.  

There were 1,238 fewer incidents of Burglary and related offences recorded in Q3 2020 than in Q3 2019, representing a drop of 30.9%. Sharp decreases were also observed in Theft and related offences (down by 18.9%) and for Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences (lower by 17.3%) compared with the equivalent quarter in 2019. See Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2.

While the number of Attempts/Threats to Murder, assaults, harassments and related offences fell by 9.4%, the number of Sexual offences recorded in Q3 2020 was marginally higher than that recorded in Q3 2019 (+0.2%). The number of crimes classified as Weapons and explosives offences was also higher by 117 incidents (+16.3%).

This section provides additional detail on Group 03 incidents (Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences), as users may be interested in the demographic breakdown of victims of this crime group.  Note that the number of victims highlighted in this section will not match the number of incidents in Table 1.2 above as there may, in limited circumstances, be incidents where no injured party is recorded.

The number of victims of Group 03 incidents (Attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences) recorded in Q3 2020 was 574 or 10.7% lower than for the corresponding period in 2019. This fall was mostly accounted for by a reduction in male victims, down 414 (-13.4%) on Q3 2019. The number of female victims of assault also decreased, but by a smaller figure of 160 (-7%). Despite the overall decrease, the number of female victims was higher in age groups 30-44 (up 46, or 6%), and Under 18 (up 10, or 3.6%) in Q3 compared to the equivalent period in 2019. See Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3