Calls to crime victims helpline increase by 11 per cent

THERE WAS A significant increase in calls to a phone line set up for crime victims last year, new figures show.

The Crime Victims Helpline dealt with more than 6,000 calls during 2011 – 11 per cent more than in 2010.

Officials at the helpline said they had identified no specific reason for the increase in demand for the service. However, they said a significant proportion of people calling the confidential number did so after physical assaults.

“Unprovoked assaults, especially on the streets late at night, continue to be a feature of many calls to the Helpline,” the organisation said in a statement.

In the case of such an unprovoked assault it can be very difficult for the Gardaí to trace the perpetrator/s. If there is no CCTV footage and if no witnesses come forward, the attacker/s may not be brought to justice.

Some 17 per cent of the total calls related to physical assaults.

The Crime Victims Helpline is a confidential service operated by volunteers, offering support and information for people affected by crime.

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