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Crime Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018

Tuesday, 30 January 2018

Questions (310)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

310. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which annual policy plans are to be constructed in the absence of CSO figures on crime statistics; the data that will replace these statistics; the interaction he has had with the CSO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4272/18]

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Written answers

I can inform the Deputy that all policy matters are kept under continuous review in my Department and crime policy is formulated on the basis of a number of factors, not limited to official crime statistics. A key element of the policy planning around policing matters is the preparation by the Garda Commissioner of an annual policing plan, which is required by law to have regard to various matters including priorities determined by the Policing Authority, available resources, and relevant Government policy.

I am closely monitoring this issue and my Department is in ongoing contact with the Central Statistics Office and An Garda Síochána to ensure resumption of the publication of official Crime Statistics by the CSO at the earliest possible opportunity. The Deputy will be aware that An Garda Síochána is working with the CSO to resolve an issue which emerged in relation to the classification of homicide offences. When a homicide occurs, the offence may be classified as murder, manslaughter or violent death.

My understanding is that all of these cases were subject to investigation but that an issue emerged due to the fact that the classification of a crime may change as investigations evolve; for example, a serious assault may become a murder or manslaughter if the victim subsequently dies, or a murder charge may ultimately need to be reclassified as a manslaughter following Court proceedings.

An Garda Síochána initiated a review of homicide classifications, initially for the period 2013-2015 but later extended the review to cover the period from 2003-2017. This is obviously a time consuming and complex process but it is important that both An Garda Síochána and the CSO are confident that their data is robust and accurate. While the review is underway, the CSO has suspended the publication of quarterly crime statistics, which were last published for Q4 of 2016.

In the interim, An Garda Síochána has produced provisional operational figures to the Policing Authority. The provisional operational material released by the Gardaí recently indicates a significant drop in burglary rates for the 2 month period of November/ December 2017. This success has been attributed to the Winter Phase of Operation Thor and I would like to commend An Garda Síochána for their work under Operation Thor, particularly to combat burglaries as indicated by these provisional figures, while acknowledging that they are not the official figures until such time as they are verified by the CSO.

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