Crime victims: number of foreign tourists seeking support services up 6%

THE number of foreign tourists who sought help from special support services after becoming a victim of a crime while holidaying in Ireland rose by 6% last year.

A total of 504 overseas visitors were helped by the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) in 2006, according to the organisation’s latest annual report which was published yesterday.

The ITAS dealt with 315 cases of recorded crimes against tourists, 14 of which were classified as violent crime — an increase of three cases on 2005.