Crime Levels.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2005

Tuesday, 10 May 2005

Ceisteanna (278, 279, 280)

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

330 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the area covered by Dundrum Garda station for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive. [14894/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As regards crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office as Minister, the quarterly crime rate has decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 population to 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of 11 quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts in the country. In interpreting these figures, account has also to be taken of the introduction of the new PULSE computer system by the Garda Síochána in 1999 which led to more complete and comprehensive recording of crimes reported than was previously the case. The Deputy will also wish to be aware that, taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000 population in 1995 to 25 per 1,000 population in 2004.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the headline crime statistics by groups from 2000 to 2004 for the Blackrock Garda district, which covers the Dundrum area.

Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Blackrock Garda district from 2000 to 2004

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	12	10	39	30	49	36	45	32	46	24
Sexual Offences	11	9	11	10	54	47	25	14	21	9
Arson	10	6	23	6	36	15	22	1	33	5
Drugs	9	9	15	15	30	30	21	21	29	28
Thefts	1,038	322	905	274	1,105	304	1,019	288	1,080	308
Burglary	626	203	626	172	749	111	706	72	744	89
Robbery	71	44	76	36	79	26	74	26	94	53
Fraud	97	90	82	73	62	39	68	43	33	23
Other	2	2	13	11	18	17	14	14	3	1
Total	1,876	695	1,790	627	2,182	625	1,994	511	2,083	540

*The statistics for 2004 are provisional or operational and liable to change.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

331 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the area covered by Stepaside Garda station for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive. [14895/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As regards crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office as Minister, the quarterly crime rate has decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 population to 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of 11 quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts in the country. In interpreting these figures, account has also to be taken of the introduction of the new PULSE computer system by the Garda Síochána in 1999 which led to more complete and comprehensive recording of crimes reported than was previously the case. Taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000 population in 1995 to 25 per 1,000 population in 2004.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the headline crime by groups from 2000 to 2004 for the Blackrock Garda district which covers the Stepaside area.

Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Blackrock Garda district from 2000 to 2004

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Assault	12	10	39	30	49	36	45	32	46	24
Sexual Offences	11	9	11	10	54	47	25	14	21	9
Arson	10	6	23	6	36	15	22	1	33	5
Drugs	9	9	15	15	30	30	21	21	29	28
Thefts	1,038	322	905	274	1,105	304	1,019	288	1,080	308
Burglary	626	203	626	172	749	111	706	72	744	89
Robbery	71	44	76	36	79	26	74	26	94	53
Fraud	97	90	82	73	62	39	68	43	33	23
Other	2	2	13	11	18	17	14	14	3	1
Total	1,876	695	1,790	627	2,182	625	1,994	511	2,083	540

*The statistics for 2004 are provisional or operational and liable to change.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

332 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the crime statistics for the area covered by Rathfarnham Garda station for the years 2000 to 2004, inclusive. [14896/05]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

As regards crime figures, the Deputy will be aware that on becoming Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I arranged for the publication of headline crime statistics on a quarterly basis to improve the quality of information available to the public. While caution should be exercised in interpreting levels of crime between quarters, I am pleased to note that during my term of office as Minister, the quarterly crime rate has decreased from 6.7 per 1,000 population to 6 per 1,000 over the longer period of 11 quarters for which figures are available. This trend is reflected throughout most Garda districts in the country. In interpreting these figures, account has also to be taken of the introduction of the new PULSE computer system by the Garda Síochána in 1999 which led to more complete and comprehensive recording of crimes reported than was previously the case. The Deputy will also wish to be aware that, taking into account the significant increase in our population since 1995, the headline crime rate has fallen from 29 per 1,000 population in 1995 to 25 per 1,000 population in 2004.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Rathfarnham area is part of the Tallaght district. The following table shows the headline offences by group from 2000 to 2004 in Tallaght Garda district.

Headline Offences Recorded and Detected for Tallaght district 2000 to 2004

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004*
	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec	Rec	Dec
Homicide	3	2	3	3	6	4	1	0	2	2
Assault	56	35	146	100	213	139	189	123	183	86
Sexual Offences	29	21	87	64	191	151	111	23	91	32
Arson	39	4	53	9	47	6	54	9	74	8
Drugs	47	47	139	139	115	115	77	77	73	73
Thefts	1,390	498	1,585	709	1,878	757	1,855	754	2,409	859
Burglary	703	170	827	182	975	140	746	77	1,041	93
Robbery	190	82	215	72	188	62	158	43	172	45
Fraud	58	53	86	75	66	33	85	58	57	31
Other	29	16	55	32	56	31	61	39	80	58
Total	2,544	928	3,196	1,385	3,735	1,438	3,337	1,203	4,182	1,287

*The statistics for 2004 are provisional/operational and liable to change.