Rape group sounds alarm over sex offence statistics

RAPE and child support groups yesterday linked the massive drop in unlawful carnal knowledge offences to the crisis over the statutory rape laws.

Rape crisis experts expressed concern that the number of unlawful carnal knowledge incidents hadn’t actually dropped; rather, offenders weren’t being prosecuted because of confusion over the law.

The number of unlawful carnal knowledge offences recorded by gardaí fell by 38% in 2006, from 94 to 58 cases, according to the latest crime figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).