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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

29 September 2021

Recorded Crime Q2 2021

Large increase in fraud crimes in the year to Quarter 2 2021
  • The number of crime incidents recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE database classified as fraud increased by more than 40% in the year to June 2021
  • Fall in the number of incidents of burglary (down 37%), theft (down 22%), robbery (down 21%) in the year to Q2 2021 compared to the previous year
  • A total of 3,778 offences were recorded on PULSE for breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Q2 2021
  • Impact of cancelled 999 calls on Recorded Crime statistics still to be determined
  • Recorded Crime Statistics continue to be categorised as Statistics Under Reservation

Go to release: Recorded Crime Q2 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 September 2021) published the latest Recorded Crime statistics, which cover the period to the end of June 2021.

Commenting on the release, Sam Scriven, Statistician, said: “The number of crime incidents recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE database which were classified as fraud offences increased by more than 40% in the year to Q2 2021 compared to the previous year. The increase has occurred mostly in Q1 and Q2 of 2021 and primarily relates to fraudulent attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone as well as fraudulent use of credit and debit card information.

The number of crimes recorded in most other crime incident type categories fell in the year to June 2021 compared to the previous year, for example in burglary (down by 37%), theft (down by 22%) and robbery (down by 21%). There were also fewer assaults (down by 9%), criminal damage (down by 6%) and public order offences (down by 10%). Users should note when considering crime trends the varying COVID-19 restrictions in place for much of 2020 and 2021 and the likely impact of such restrictions on levels of crime.

A total of 3,778 offences were recorded on PULSE for breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Q2 2021. This was a marked decrease on the 10,438 such offences recorded during Q1 2021 following the introduction of a new system of Fixed Payment Notices (i.e. fines) in respect of breaches of COVID-19 regulations in December 2020. The reduction reflects the general easing of restrictions during Q2 relative to Q1.”

On the issue of cancelled 999 calls, Sam Scriven, Statistician, said: “An internal An Garda Síochána investigation into the inappropriate cancellation of calls on its Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system is ongoing. The premature or improper cancellation of calls on the CAD system may mean that records relating to crimes, which were reported to AGS, were not created on the PULSE system, and are therefore not counted in Recorded Crime statistics. The CSO is awaiting clarification on the full impact of the issue from AGS, including the time periods involved (how far back this issue goes), the crime types impacted, and crucially, the estimated numbers of crimes which were not recorded on PULSE due to inappropriate cancellation of CAD calls, before it can determine the impact on Recorded Crime statistics.”

Editor's Note:

Editor's Note:

Recorded Crime statistics continue to be published as Statistics Under Reservation.

For further information: Under Reservation Explanation

For further information contact:

Sam Scriven (+353) 21 453 5276 or Caroline Barrett (+353) 21 453 5485

or email crime@cso.ie

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