Analysis: The 2002 crime figures indicate a low level of overall crime but worrying rises in some categories of serious offences, writes Liam Reid.
The figures have been coming out in dribs and drabs since April. However, the publication yesterday of the 2002 Annual Report of the Garda Commissioner was the first full and comprehensive breakdown of the levels and extent of crime in Ireland in 2002.
In a year during which serious crime and public order became one of the main issues of public concern, the 2002 crime statistics have taken on an even greater importance.
Indeed, the Garda Commissioner used his annual report to point out crime levels in Ireland are low compared with other countries of similar size.
Detection rates and policing levels were better than most European countries, he reported.
The Minister for Justice took the opportunity to state that the main figures showing a 22 per cent rise in headline offences had already been published, by himself, last April.
He also noted preliminary crime figures for the first nine months of 2003, showed a 3 per cent drop, with a 26 per cent drop on assaults causing harm. Nevertheless, the details contained in yesterday's report show some worrying trends in the form of dramatic rises in some of the most serious criminal offences.
Because of the serious nature of these crimes, and the fact that their recording has been computerised since 2000, previous under-reporting cannot be considered to be a factor in these rises.
While the number of murders committed in 2002 remained static at 52, gardaí investigated 74 murder threats and attempted murders last year, compared with less than 20 the previous year.
Assault and sexual offences also showed an alarming increase in 2002.
There were 5,016 "assault causing harm" offences in 2002, compared with 3,114 in 2001, a rise of 61 per cent.
Sexual assaults reported to gardaí rose by 55 per cent to 1,626. Aggravated sexual assault rose by 50 per cent to 24 offences.
Gross indecency offences reported to gardaí more than trebled from 33 to 109, and buggery offences rose from 36 to 94. There were 412 rapes reported to gardaí last year, compared with 335 the previous year, a rise of 24 per cent.
It should be noted that some of these may be historical, occurring some time ago, but not reported until 2002.
There were also alarming rises in the number of armed robberies in Ireland in 2002, when there were 284 armed raids.
This included 26 bank robberies, 21 on post offices, 36 on betting offices and 28 on building societies.
This is a 66 per cent rise on the 171 armed robberies in 2001. Aggravated burglaries where firearms were used rose by just under a third to 80 during the same period. There has also been a substantial drop in the detection rate for these offences, with 32 per cent detected in 2002, compared with 49 per cent in 2000.
The use of syringes in robberies and burglaries has declined significantly however, from 371 to 221 between 2001 and 2002.
The detection rate also is a cause for concern. In 2001, 41 per cent of all headline offences were recorded as being detected by gardaí This dropped to 39 per cent in 2002.
In relation to the overall figures, the Minister also pointed out that there were complicating factors regarding the drawing up of the statistics, namely the introduction of the Pulse system which computerised Garda records for the first time.
This has led to a "certain unquantifiable" increase in headline crime statistics, a statement from his Department said yesterday. And official crime statistics, those reported to gardaí, are always seen as somewhat problematic, in that they fail to include crimes people are unwilling to report.
Because of this Mr McDowell has engaged an expert group on crime statistics "in a detailed examination of the reliability and consistency of the statistics".
However, the Pulse system, cannot explain the rises in the most serious crimes, such as armed robberies and rape.
The recording of these serious crimes have been computerised since 2000, and the report itself says the figures are comparable with 2000 and 2001.