The number of recorded serious crimes increased in the second quarter of the year according to figures released by the Central Staistics Office (CSO) today.
Significant increases were seen in drug-related crimes, assault and homicide.
Although headline crime showed an overall decrease of 1.1 per cent in the 12 months to June 30th, the number of recorded crimes increased by 3.2 per cent in the second quarter of the year.
The total number of homicide offences rose from 35 to 50 in the second quarter of the year when compared with last year's figures for the same period.
There were 19 recorded instances of murder and manslaughter - an increase of three (18 per cent). The number of murder attempts and threats made against people rose by 11, while there was an overall increase of three murders and manslaughters in the 12-month period to the end of June.
The number of drug-related crimes rose drastically during the second quarter of the year and over the 12 months running up to the second quarter. The numbers of drugs offences increased by over 30 per cent in the 12 month period with the most significant rise in the possession of drugs for sale or supply.
Theft makes up 56 per cent of all recorded crime for the twelve months to the end of the second quarter. However overall, the number of recorded thefts was down 1.2 per cent over the twelve month period.
Burglary represents 22.4 per cent of all offences recorded by the gardaí during the period, however the number of burglaries saw a drop of 12.5 per cent from the previous year.
The number of robberies from establishments or from vehicles-in-transit saw a decline over 12 months, but the number of robberies "from the person" increased by 11.1 per cent or 128 incidences.
In the 12-months to the end of the second quarter, the country also witnessed an increase in the numbers of assault cases recorded. During the period the numbers of cases of assault causing harm rose by 268 from 3,710 to 3,978.
According to the statistics there was a reduction of 12.5 per cent in the number of sexual assault cases recorded by the gardaí in the year to the end of the second quarter of this year. There were 905 recorded cases of sexual assault down 144 on the figures recorded for the previous 12 months.
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Brian Lenihan said the drop of 1.1 per cent in overall figures was "no grounds for complacency".
Labour Party justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said the figures "confirm statistically what everybody has known anecdotally for quite some time - that crime levels continue to spiral upwards".