CSO Publishes new Irish Crime Classification System

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) today published details of a new classification system for criminal offences. It is called the Irish Crime Classification System (ICCS). It will be first used by CSO on next Wednesday, 23rd April, when it publishes Garda Recorded Crime Statistics 2003-2006. This new classification system replaces the Headline/Non-Headline system, used by An Garda Siochana since 2000. This classification system was also used by CSO from October, 2006 when it first began to publish crime statistics.

While the ICCS will initially be used for Garda recorded crimes only, this will not always be the situation. It is intended that ICCS be adopted in other areas of the criminal justice system.

The ICCS has been developed by CSO in close co-operation with An Garda Siochana in particular. Its development was also greatly helped by information and advice from the members of the Advisory Group on Crime Statistics. The Advisory Group prioritised the development of a new classification system in recognition of potential value to the justice area and wider public by integrating, and better communicating, relevant information.

The most important feature of ICCS is that it is written in everyday language. This is a departure from previous classification systems, which were legalistic in their language.

The ICCS borrows heavily from the principles used in the Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC). The ASOC was considered to be the most modern and accessible of all crime classification systems examined by the developers.

A more detailed description of the rationale used in the development of the ICCS is given in today´s publication, Introduction of Irish Crime Classification System (ICCS) which has been released on the CSO website only at www.cso.ie (PDF 149KB) (PDF 169KB) .

For further information contact:

Ger Healy 021 453 5205

Crime Statistics,
Central Statistics Office

Phone: LoCall 1890 313 414 / (021) 453 5000/ (01) 498 4000
Fax (021) 453 5555

Internet www.cso.ie
E-mail crime@cso.ie

17 April 2008

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