Bernard J. Durkan
Question:203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the main reasons the public give for not wishing to report crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23644/03]
Written Answers. - Crime Reporting.
The most comprehensive victimisation survey to date was carried out as part of the quarterly national household survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office in late 1998. The survey found that the percentage of crimes reported to the Garda varied considerably, from over 95% in the case of car thefts to less than 40% in the case of vandalism. The level of reporting of crimes depended on such factors as the seriousness of the crime and whether an insurance claim was being made. The survey also found that 63% of all assaults are reported to the Garda. Over a quarter of those who did not report an assault did not consider it important enough to do so.
While there are general claims of underreporting of crime, there is no evidence that the level of underreporting now is any greater than in the past, or that the level of unreported crime in Ireland is any greater than in other jurisdictions. The problems of unreported and unrecorded crime are well documented in the international criminological literature, and are in no way unique to this country.
Furthermore, the introduction of PULSE has improved the accuracy and comprehensiveness of Garda statistics – for example, the system demands that incidents now have to be recorded before particular actions can be taken.
Steps are, however, being taken to obtain a more accurate estimate of the level of victimisation in Ireland. Following a recommendation of the national crime council, the Government has agreed that a biennial crime victimisation survey should take place. In addition, the CSO will have a module on crime and victimisation in its next national household quarterly survey. International victimisation surveys, such as the Eurobarometer, while having small sample sizes, show the Irish crime rate as comparing favourably with other countries.
Finally, I would like to remind the House that, in January 2003, I established, with Government approval, an expert group on crime statistics chaired by Mr. David Kennedy to examine the methods of collation and presentation of crime statistics by the Garda Síochána and other authorities involved in criminal prosecution. The expert group is expected to report by January 2004.
Question No. 204 answered with Question No. 201.