Kenneth Fox
Rape cases are up by 23 per cent compared to 2021, according to the latest crime data from An Garda Síochána.
Compared to pre-pandemic figures, reports of rape are also up by 11 per cent on 2019.
Sexual assault was down by 5 per cent on 2021 while child sexual abuse images were down by 18 per cent.
Gardaí said sexual offences have been increasing since early 2015, and although they plateaued in 2020 the upward trend has resumed in 2021.
Overall sexual offences are down marginally by 3 per cent for the first half of 2022.
Gardaí said the increase in sexual offences figures may relate to a change in reporting behaviour whereby victims are increasingly likely to report sexual crime.
They said ongoing efforts by An Garda Síochána regarding improvement of data quality and recording may be a contributing factor to the upward trend in recorded incidents of both sexual offences in recent years.
Therefore, it cannot be concluded that the increase in sexual offences is solely due to an increased level of incidents occurring.
In terms of other crime data, residential burglary is up by 33 per cent on 2021, but remains down by 38 per cent compared to 2019.
Theft has seen an increase of 164 per cent on 2021, but remains down by 46 per cent on 2019.
Covid-19 impact
Fraud offences overall are down 2 per cent on 2021, but significant increases continue in online fraud such as account take over fraud which is up by 128 per cent on last year.
The latest June 2022 garda report provides analysis for the 1st half of 2022 and commentary on five-year and three-year average trends.
Comparisons between current 2022 data and 2021 should continue to be considered in the context of Covid-19, therefore comparisons are also given against 2019 figures.
Public health measures had a significant effect on crime, with most types of crime reporting reductions during the Covid-19 period.
In terms of domestic violence, there has been a 13 per cent increase in domestic abuse incidents attended to by An Garda Síochána reported in the first half of 2022 compared with the first half of 2021.
Crimes against the person plateaued in 2020 following a gradual rise over the preceding three years. The reported level of crimes against the person was four per cent higher in 2021.
The term “crimes against the person” refers to a broad array of criminal offences which usually involve bodily harm, the threat of bodily harm, or other actions committed against the will of an individual.
The latest figures show that murder is up 7 per cent on 2021 and up the same amount on 2019. Harassment, stalking and threats are down five per cent on 2021 but up by 17 per cent on 2019.
In terms of assault causing harm, there was a 34 per cent increase on 2021 and a 32 per cent increase on 2021.
Separately An Garda Síochána said the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has seized drugs valued at €20.7 million, cash worth €3.6 million and five firearms so far in 2022.
