Issue Date: 2 March 2023
Key Crime Trends
- Residential Burglary remains down -45% (2019) but an increase +7% (2021)
- Theft from Person remains down -40% (2019) but an increase +111% (2021)
- Fraud Offences overall -32% (2021). Driven in reductions post pandemic on Online Fraud such as Account Take Over Fraud (-27%), Card Not Present Fraud (-59%), Phishing/Vishing/ Smishing Frauds (-48%); Accommodation Fraud (+28%) continued to show an increase.
- Theft/ UT of vehicles show significant increase +17% (2019) and +52% (2021)
- Sexual Offences Overall show increases +8% (2019) +4% (2021)
- Specifically Rape and Sexual Assault increased +9% (2019) +4% (2021)
- Crimes Against the Person overall show an increase +6% (2019) +14% (2021) primarily due to increases in reported Assaults Causing Harm +16% (2019) +20% (2021).
- Assault or Obstruction of Garda shows an increase of +27% (2019) +2% (2021)
- The quantity of Drugs incidents has reduced (Sale/ Supply -19% (2019) -14% (2021) but volume of Drugs seized is increasing (> €89million seized during 2022)
An Garda Síochána publishes provisional Crime data each month in the Commissioners Monthly Report to the Policing Authority. The January 2023 report (here) and February 2023 (here) provides analysis for 2022 and commentary on 5-year and 3-year average trends.
Comparisons between current 2022 data and 2021 should continue to be considered in the context of Covid-19, therefore a longer trend comparison are 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 particular, periods of ‘lockdown’ level restrictions such as the ‘Level 5’ restrictions (Late December 2020 – May 2021) had a large impact on many types of crime.
Domestic Abuse - There has been a continued increase (+8%) with nearly 54,000 Domestic Abuse Incidents attended to by An Garda Síochána during 2022 compared to just under 50,000 incidents in 2021 and just over 44,500 (+21%) in 2020.
Sexual Offences - Sexual offences have been increasing since early 2015 and although having plateaued in 2020, this upward trend had resumed in 2021.
Sexual Offences Overall show increases +8% (2019) +4% (2021) with reported Rape increased +13% (2019) +2% (2021)
- Sexual Assault +8% (2019) +5% (2021)
- Rape +13% (2019) +2% (2021)
- Child Sexual Abuse Material +6% (2019) +3% (2021)
The increase in sexual offences figures may relate to a change in reporting behaviour whereby victims are increasingly likely to report sexual crime.
Furthermore, 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 and Crimes against the Person in recent years. It therefore cannot be concluded that the increase in Sexual Offences (in recent years) is solely due to an increased level of incidents occurring.
Crimes Against the Person plateaued in 2020, following a gradual rise over the preceding three years. Reported crimes against the person were 14% higher in 2022 compared with the previous year.
- Murder * +16% (2019) +76% (2021)
- Murder – Attempt** -59% (2019) -31% (2021)
- Human Trafficking** +110% (2019) +31% (2021)
- Harassment, Stalking, threats +18% (2019) +5% (2021)
- Assault Causing Harm +16% (2019) +20% (2021)
- Minor Assault 0% (2019) +19% (2021)
- Demanding Payment of Debt** +104% (2019) +45% (2021)
- Assault or Obstruction of Garda +27% (2019) +2% (2021)
* Murder/ Manslaughter Offences Total 44/2022, 25/2021, 38/2019
** Based on low volumes so percentage change is liable to large variation.
An Garda Síochána has in place a Drugs Related Intimidation Reporting Programme. Garda Inspectors are appointed in every Garda division to respond to the issue of drug related intimidation. An Garda Síochána in dealing with any complaint of drug related intimidation or advice sought in relation to this issue, will do so with the utmost safety and effective means in order to afford the person or family subject to the threat of the best level of security, advice and support which can be offered. Most importantly An Garda Síochána will deal with this issue in the utmost confidential and secure fashion.
Property Crime – Property crime had been trending downwards since the end of 2015. This trend flattened in 2019 but took a further downward turn in 2020. However, an increase of 36% was observed in 2022 compared with the previous year, but generally remain down compared to 2019.
- Burglary (residential) -45% (2019) +7% (2021)
- Burglary (non-residential) -45% (2019) +15% (2021)
- Fraud Offences +90% (2019) -32% (2021)
- Theft/ UT of Vehicles +17% (2019) +52% (2021)
- Theft from Vehicle -36% (2019) +15% (2021)
- Theft from Person -40% (2019) +111% (2021)
- Robbery from Person -30% (2019) +24% (2021)
- Aggravated Burglary -14% (2019) 0% (2021)
- Theft of Pedal Cycles -11% (2019) 0% (2021)
- Blackmail/ Extortion Offences +258% (2019) +35% (2021)
Burglary has been trending downwards, particularly since the commencement of Operation Thor in November 2015. Overall reported burglary in 2022 was 45% lower than pre-pandemic levels (2019). While Residential burglary was up 7% compared to 2021, Residential Burglary was down -24% in the fourth quarter 2022. This is a new trend and contrary to the international trend which sees residential burglaries spike during longer dark evenings of winter/ spring months. An Garda Síochána implements a Winter phase of Operation Thor between October and March, inclusive, to target this seasonal peak.
Operation THOR is a multi-strand approach to tackling burglaries with an emphasis on preventing the crime from happening in the first instance. Operation Thor actively targets organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention and enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. Operation THOR has successfully reduced the rate of winter burglaries, leading to a significant decline in property related crime since its introduction in 2015.
Fraud Offences – Technology based fraud (Phishing, Account Take Over, Card Not Present, Online Shopping fraud etc...) which increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and particularly in 2021, has reduced during 2022. In 2022 the increase in Accommodation Fraud (+28%) and Bogus Tradesman Fraud (+8%) has continued
Theft/ UT of Vehicles has seen a significant increase in 2022. A significant portion of this increase is related to thefts of second hand imported vehicles and the theft of electric scooters.
Criminal Damage incidents trended downwards from 2015 – 2018 and appeared to stabilise in 2019. Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, there were signs of resumption of this downward trend. There was an increase of 11% in 2022 compared with the previous year. As with theft offences and crimes against the person, 2021 saw a steady increase in conjunction with the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Compared to pre-pandemic levels of criminal damage in 2019, reported criminal damage in 2022 was 2% lower.
Total Public Order (public order and drunkenness) incidents showed a gradual upwards trend starting in mid-2018 and, like other types of crime, saw a reduction in 2020 which caused this trend to plateau. There was an increase of 10% in 2022 compared with the previous year.
- Trespass Offences +5% (2019) +6% (2021)
- Public Order Offences -5% (2019) +10% (2021)
- Criminal Damage -2% (2019) +11% (2021)
- Drunkenness Offences 0% (2019) +19% (2021)
- Demonstrations (non-crime) -45% (2019) -21% (2021)
Drugs Offences (-14%) and Offensive Weapons Offences (-2%) are down overall during 2022
- Possession of a Firearm -13% (2019) 0% (2021)
- Possession of Offensive Weapon +2% (2019) -1% (2021)
- Discharging a Firearm -25% (2019) -4% (2021)
- Cultivation/ Manufacture of drugs -30% (2019) -46% (2021)
- Possession of Drugs Sale/ Supply -9% (2019) -14% (2021)
- Possession of Drugs Personal Use -23% (2019) -14% (2021)
An Garda Síochána commenced Operation TARA in July 2021.
During 2022 Divisional Drugs Units and Local Operational Gardaí have seized in excess of €32 million Drugs (subject to analysis).
Separately An Garda Síochána Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has seized
- Drugs value €57 million (subject to analysis)
- Cash - €3.75 million
- 9 Firearms
During 2022 Fatal Road Traffic Collisions increased by 20%; Serious Road Traffic Collisions decreased by 3%.
During 2022 there were in excess of 50,000 Road Traffic Collisions reported to An Garda Síochána.
- Traffic Collision Fatal +20% (2021) +13% (2019)
- Traffic Collision Serious Injury -3% (2021) -6% (2019)
- Traffic Collision Non Serious Injury +22% (2021) -2% (2019)
- Traffic Collision Material Damage +24% (2021) +4% (2019)
- Driving while Intoxicated +4% (2021) -1% (2019)
Over 7,750 drivers have been arrested during 2022 for Driving while intoxicated offences.
