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 2023 compared with 2022.
There were 65 recorded instances of Homicide & Related offences in 2023 and this was down 15 or 19% from 2022. Incidents of Murder accounted for most of this change, falling by 11 or 25% over the year. See Table 4.1.
The number of recorded crime incidents of Dangerous or Negligent Acts fell by 539 or 7% over the year. This was driven by a fall of 401 or 7% in the number of incidents of Driving/in charge or a Vehicle While Over Legal Alcohol Limit and to a lesser extent by a fall of 116 or 6% in the number of incidents of Driving/In Charge of a Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs.
Robbery, Extortion & Hijacking offences rose by 531 or 26% over the year and this was driven by increases in incidents of Blackmail or Extortion (+302 or +54%) and Robbery from the Person (+186 or +19%).
Increases in incidents of Theft from Shop (+3,784 or 14%) accounted for nearly half (46%) of the overall increase of 8,169 or 12% in the number of incidents of Theft & Related offences between 2022 and 2023. There were also increases in the number of incidents of Other Thefts & Handling Stolen Property offences (+1,836 or +6%) and Theft/Taking of Vehicle & Related offences (+1,455 or +23%). Recorded incidents of Theft from Person rose by 1,094 or 42% over the year.
The number of incidents of Controlled Drugs offences remained virtually unchanged in 2023 from a year earlier. The increase in incidents of Possession of Drugs, for Sale or Supply (+720 or +17%) was nearly offset by a fall of 650 or 5% in incidents of Possession of Drugs for Personal Use.
Finally, a fall of 1,755 or 7% in the number of recorded incidents of Disorderly Conduct accounted for most of the fall of 2,461 or 8% in incidents of Public Order & Other Social Code offences between 2022 and 2023.
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