Low rate of crimes resulting in prosecution

JUST a small fraction of crimes recorded by gardaí in 2008 have resulted in a decision to prosecute in the courts.

Data provided by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that even where gardaí have detected the crime, prosecutions have not been taken in a substantial number, if not most, cases up until last October.

As the table shows, almost all dangerous and negligent acts (the vast majority serious driving offences) in 2008 were detected, yet just a quarter of them have so far received a direction to prosecute.