Smith commends Gardai for successful targeting of drug suppliers reflected in latest crime statistics

Decrease in homicide reported for 2010

The Central Statistics Office today published the recorded crime statistics for the fourth quarter of 2010. Speaking on publication, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Mr Brendan Smith T.D., welcomed the decrease in nine of the 14 crime groups for which figures are given, compared with the same quarter in 2009.

Minister Smith said: "The picture presented by these figures reflects the continuing commitment and focused policing of An Garda Síochána. Although the public finances are under considerable pressure, the Garda budget is nevertheless greater than the expenditure outturn for 2010. The Commissioner and I are determined that the resources available will be prioritised on frontline services and utilised with the greatest degree of efficiency achievable." 

While the number of controlled drug offences was down 9.6% quarter on quarter, there was an increase of 101.3% in the number of recorded cases of cultivation or manufacture of drugs and of 1.6% in cases of possession of drugs for sale or supply. The Minister said: "I welcome this evidence of the success of continuing Garda operations against the producers and suppliers of substances which are so harmful to the individual and the community. I know that the Garda Commissioner and his senior management are continuing their high level of activity in this area." 

Minister Smith welcomed the continuing reductions in the number of cases of homicide, down 5.9% in the quarter, compared with the same quarter in 2009, and down 10.2% in 2010, compared with 2009. There was a decrease of four in the number of murder and manslaughter cases for the year 2010 as a whole.

As the CSO again points out, the increases shown in sexual offences are due, not to an actual increase in the number of cases, but because of an adjustment following an on-going review of all cases involving alleged sexual offences reported to An Garda Síochána at various times in the past - not only in the last quarter. This on-going review is taking place in the context of An Garda Síochána making publicly available its policy on the investigation of sexual crime, including child abuse last year. As part of that policy, designated Gardaí have responsibility for ensuring that all sexual crime incidents are recorded and reviewed on the Garda PULSE system.

While the statistics show an unwelcome increase of 28.2% in robbery, extortion and hijacking offences in 2010, the Minister has been assured that the Gardaí will continue to target those engaged in these forms of crime, particularly through intelligence led policing. Overall, in crimes against property there were decreases in burglary and related offences (down 5.8%) and theft and related offences (down 0.4%), which together made up by far the greatest proportion (97%) of such property offences.

The Minister welcomed the decreases in the numbers of cases of driving or being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit (down 16.8%) or while under the influence of drugs (down 39.6%) in the quarter. These reductions have contributed to the lowest ever recorded annual number of road fatalities (212) in 2010.

The crime statistics are available on the CSO website www.cso.ie.

31 January 2011