Date Published: Tue, 30 Jun 2015

CSO Resumes Publication of Recorded Crime Statistics

The CSO has resumed publication of recorded crime data, with the release of statistics for Q3 & Q4 2014 and Q1 2015.  Among the main findings are:

• In the 12-month period between March 2014 and March 2015, recorded Assaults and Burglaries both increased by 8.0%.

• In the same period, groups including Homicide fell by 40.2% while Robbery fell by 6.6%.

Publication of the data was suspended following the publication of the Garda Inspectorate report Crime Investigation in November 2014. The CSO decision to resume publication follows the completion of a comprehensive review of the quality of Garda crime administrative data on PULSE (Police Using Leading Systems Effectively). Based on the samples taken, the CSO analysis shows:

• Around 18% of crimes reported to An Garda Síochana in 2011 do not appear to be recorded on PULSE.

• Around 3% of crimes recorded in PULSE in 2011 have been incorrectly classified to the wrong crime category. A further 4% of cases had insufficient information to determine the correct classification.

• Some 7% of incidents classified to Attention and Complaints in 2011 (a non-crime category on PULSE) should have been classified as a crime.

These findings are broadly in line with those of the Garda Inspectorate report.

The CSO has decided that it will resume publication of recorded crime statistics, given the importance to the state of having information on recorded crime levels. However when interpreting the recorded crime statistics, the CSO advises that the findings of the review should be taken into account. . The CSO review (PDF 288KB) is published today along with the quarterly crime release (PDF 858KB) . 

It is envisaged that similar reviews will be undertaken by the CSO on a periodic basis to monitor data quality.

– ENDS –