Crime study - Scrutiny we can all benefit from
Based on CSO and Garda statistics from 2008 up to 2012, this analysis provides fresh insights on changing crime trends up and down the country. It shows, for example, where people are more likely to have their homes burgled or come face to face with someone who is drunk and disorderly.
Overall, the in-depth analysis portrays a fascinating picture of the nation with some unexpected and surprising results. While no single fact or statistic receives banner headline treatment, the social value of this study is that it looks at crime in Ireland from a new and different perspective.
Counties are graded according to population which means they can be measured, for instance, in terms of the safest or most dangerous places to live. It also examines the link between the number of gardaí on the ground and the extent of crime from county to county.
Who could have imagined, for instance, that Kerry would top the list for public order offences, that Waterford, Louth, Wicklow and Limerick have some of the highest overall crime rates, while Roscommon and Longford are the safest places to live. Cork has a high homicide rate with 42 recorded in the past five years.
Though crime volumes were down nationally, the overall situation continues to be unacceptable. One in every 18 people, for instance, was a victim of crime last year, with one in 60 a victim of theft.
The question prompted by such statistics is how many crimes went unreported because some people believe there is little to be gained from going to the gardaí about so-called ‘petty crime’. Petty it may be, but inevitably it leaves deep psychological scars in the minds of fearful victims.
As readers know, crime reports ranging from horrific murders to violent robberies and kidnappings appear in these columns with depressing regularity. Thankfully, crime has fallen by 18% in the past five years. However, there have been sharp increases in the number of recorded sexual offences and robberies. That is very worrying.
According to a separate but revealing report from the Women’s Aid organisation, domestic violence is on the increase. Arguably, that is associated with crushing austerity policies which militate against job creation, make life impossible for tens of thousands of people, and generate crime.
Though criticism has been voiced in some quarters, publication of today’s supplement on national crime trends is not intended to reflect ill on any particular county. Rather, the aim is to show the true situation on the ground. By providing people with the facts, they will be better informed to comment and, where necessary, more empowered to demand action.
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