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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

29 March 2021

Recorded Crime Q4 2020

Sharp falls in recorded crime in 2020
  • The number of burglary offences recorded in 2020 was 34.7% lower than in 2019
  • There were also significant falls in theft (down 24.5%), robbery (down 22.9%), assaults and related offences (down 13.2%) and sexual offences (down 10.6%) compared to 2019
  • There were fewer assaults recorded in 2020 but while assaults on men fell by 19%, there was a lower decline of 6.4% in assaults on women
  • The number of females aged between 30 and 44 who reported assaults increased by 61 (+2.1%) in 2020 compared to 2019 - the only age cohort among males or females where an increase was observed
  • The number of weapons offences (+14.9%) and drugs offences (+9.1%) both increased in 2020 relative to 2019
  • Recorded Crime statistics continue to be categorised as Statistics Under Reservation

Go to release: Recorded Crime Q4 2020

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 March 2021) published the latest Recorded Crime statistics which cover the period to the end of December 2020.

Commenting on the release, Sam Scriven, Statistician, said: “The statistics released today show a considerable fall in the number of crime incidents recorded in 2020 compared to 2019 across a range of crime incident types.

The total number of recorded crimes in 2020 has fallen sharply in the categories of burglary (-34.7%), theft (-24.5%) and robbery (-22.9%) when compared with 2019. There were also notable decreases in the number of assaults and related offences (-13.2%), and sexual offences (-10.6%). Criminal damage fell by 11% and public order offences fell by 10.6%.

The number of assaults on women in 2020 fell in comparison to 2019, but not as sharply as the decline in the number of assaults on males. There were 546 fewer female victims (-6.4%) of assault in 2020 than in 2019 and 2,319 fewer male victims (-19%) over the same period. The number of female victims aged between 30 and 44 who reported assaults increased by 61 (+2.1%) in 2020 compared to 2019. This increase, albeit marginal, was the only age cohort among males or females where an increase was observed.

The number of crime incidents in categories of weapons offences (+14.9%) and drug offences (+9.1%) rose in 2020 compared to the previous year. The number of homicides recorded rose by nine compared to 2019, driven by an increase of 10 in the number of incidents classified as dangerous driving leading to death. The combined figure for murder & manslaughter incidents fell by one compared to 2019.”

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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