CSO Statistics: Crime and rates of re-offending decline

Recorded crime has fallen in recent years across most categories, while the rate of re-offending has also decreased.

Figures from the CSO’s annual yearbook, published yesterday, show there have been steady annual declines since 2009 in offences such as dangerous or negligent acts, weapons and explosives offences, and public order and other social code offences.

While there was a slight rise in 2014 in the number of controlled drugs offences recorded, overall that too has fallen over the years since 2009. However, over the same period, fraud, deception, and related offences rose 9.2%.

Regionally, the statistics show if you live in Dublin, you are more likely to be the victim of some crimes. For example, in 2012 almost 40% of burglary offences were recorded in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

Also in 2012, the Northern region had the highest number of recorded assault offences, with 353.1 offences per 100,000, while the Western region had the lowest.

As for re-offending rates, the figures show people who have been in prison are marginally more likely to re-offend than those on probation, but there was a decline in recidivism in general according to the figures.

In 2008, 3,761 people were placed on probation orders or community service orders and of these, 1,543 — or 41% — re-offended within a three-year period.

In 2008, 5,489 people were released from the custody of the Irish Prison Service and of these, 2,802 — or 51% — re-offended within a three-year period. Just over 40% of those dealing with the Probation Service who re-offended did so within a year, just over 64% of those who re-offended following release from prison did so within six months.

Elsewhere, the figures show the consistent poverty rate almost doubled between 2008 and 2013.