Female tourists are main target of criminals

YOUNG female tourists sightseeing, shopping or dining during the day are the mains targets of criminals, figures show.

More than 620 tourists sought help last year, in 361 cases, from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) after being victims of crime.

This included 19 people under the age of 16 and nine aged less than 10.

Publishing their 2010 annual report, the national support group said last year’s figures compares to 639 tourists, in 354 cases, in 2009.

But the ITAS points out that only 13% of all crimes against tourists reported to gardaí are referred to them.

This means of the 2,777 crimes against tourists, some 2,140 are not referred.

The ITAS said it was working with gardaí to address this so tourists can get “the best possible care in the aftermath of a crime”.

The voluntary agency said crimes tend to occur when tourists were “sightseeing, shopping and generally relaxing in restaurants and cafes”. It said referrals indicate that tourists are more likely to be victims of crime between “2-6pm, be female and aged between 17-25”.

The statistics show that:

* 61% of victims are female, including 65% of 17-25 year olds.

* 222 of the 620 victims (36%) are aged 17-25.

* 132 are aged 26-35.

Theft from the person is the main crime (48%), followed by theft from cars (11%). There were six cases of burglary as well as nine violent crimes including aggravated theft, assault and robbery with violence.

Tourists affected came from 40 different countries. French tourists accounted for 18%, followed by Italian (13%), German (12%), American (11%), British (10%) and Spanish (9%).

More than €36,000 was taken from 186 tourists. Also, 171 passports and 145 national identity cards were taken, as well as 161 credit cards and 93 bank cards.

Dublin accounts for the bulk of cases (87%), with the single most referrals coming from Store Street Garda Station. The immediate referral system in Store Street was “extremely effective” and tourists were seen by ITAS staff without delay.

Wicklow accounted for 11 cases, Louth six and Galway and Kerry five each.

Lisa Kennedy, chief executive of ITAS, said: “In 2010, 84% of tourists assisted by ITAS continued with their holiday. The aim at ITAS is to try and minimise the trauma and extra expense arising from the crime. If ITAS can speak to a tourist within a couple of hours of the crime being committed it can have a positive emotional effect.”

* ITAS helpline 1890 365700.