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# crime stats
Murders are down, but sexual assaults and poisonings are on the rise
The latest crime statistics also show a rise in burglaries and fraud.
Updated at 11pm
THERE HAS BEEN a decrease in the number of murders in Ireland in the last year, but an increase in assaults, burglaries and fraud – according to new figures released by the Central Statistics Office.
In the 12-month period ending in June 2015, there were 40 recorded murder and manslaughter offences, a decrease of 25 on the corresponding period ending in June 2014.
Murder fell from 60 to 38 recorded offences and cases of dangerous driving leading to death decreased from 28 to 20.
Here’s how many criminal offences were carried out during this period:
The number of sexual offences rose to 2,072 (+3.3%). Rape of a male or female increased by 6.7% to 478 recorded offences, while sexual assault (not aggravated) offences increased by 6.5% to 1,327 over this period.
Threats to murder increased by 52.6% to 537. Assault causing harm or poisoning rose to 3,240 recorded offences, an increase of 5.2%. The annual total for recorded harassment and related offences rose by 3.8%, from 1,459 to 1,515, over the same period.
Kidnapping and related offences fell by 4.4% to 131 in the 12-month period ending in June 2015. False imprisonment offences rose by 3.0% to 69, while decreases were seen in abduction of people under 16 years of age and human trafficking offences.
Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences fell by 8.9% to 2,578 recorded offences. However, carjacking and hijacking or ‘unlawful seizure’ of aircraft or vessel rose by 27.9% to 110. Falls were seen in robbery of an establishment or institution (-5.5%), robbery of cash or goods in transit offences (-18.2%) and robbery from people (-13.0%).
Burglary
There were 28,830 recorded burglary and related offences in the same period, representing an increase of 2,241 (+8.4%).
Comparing the 12 months ending in June 2014 and June 2015, aggravated burglary offences rose by 1.6% while recorded not-aggravated burglary offences increased very slightly, from 25,619 to 27,890.
There were 5,537 recorded fraud, deception and related offences, an increase of 296 (+5.9%).
Drugs and weapons
During the same period, there were 15,488 recorded controlled drug offences, a decrease of 1.2%. Most of these recorded offences were for possession of drugs for personal use, which showed a decrease of 0.8% to 11,179.
There were 2,488 weapons and explosives offences in the 12 month period ending in June 2015, a decrease of 3.3% on the previous 12-month period. Possession of a firearm offences rose from 177 to 214 (+20.9%).
Offensive weapons offences fell from 2,059 to 1,973 over the same period, a decrease of 4.2%.
First published at 12:18pm
Read: There’s been a rise in burglary, sexual offences and threats of murder this year
Read: Gardaí appeal after elderly woman (90) brutally assaulted in her Bray home
