Sharp drop in number of rapes committed by teenagers

Overall crime rates by juvenile offenders on the rise with a 17% increase in the number committed in Cork city, where just under 1,200 were recorded

There was a 17% increase in the number of offences committed by juveniles in Cork city with just under 1,200 crimes recorded.

There has been a sharp decline in the number of children and adolescents committing rape, although overall crime rates by juvenile offenders are on the rise.

New figures compiled for the Garda Youth Diversion Programme show underage offenders were identified as the assailant in 115 out of 830 incidents of rape reported in 2019 – almost 1 in 7 cases.