Recorded Crime Q1 2022

Most categories of recorded crime increased in the year to Q1 2022 but fraud offences nearly doubled.

There were 17,354 Fraud, Deception & Related Offences in the year to Q1 2022 recorded on An Garda Siochana’s PULSE database, an increase of 88% or 8,135 compared with 2021. This increase was largely driven by unauthorised transactions and attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone. See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.

Among the other categories, the highest rates of increase were for Kidnapping and Related Offences (+38% or +48) and Offences against Government, Justice Procedures and Organisation of Crime (+24% or +2,338). Incidents of Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments and Related Offences were up by 19% or 3,475 while Sexual Offences increased by 13% or 387. See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.

In contrast, there were decreases in Homicide and Related Offences (-38% or -25), Controlled Drug Offences (-26% or -6,199) and Weapons and Explosives Offences (-15% or -459). See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.

There were just 85 breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Q1 2022 recorded on PULSE, compared with 311 in Q4 2021 but well below the peak of 10,397 recorded a year ago. The number of incidents in the last two quarters reflect the low level of COVID-19 restrictions in place compared to earlier quarters. The figure includes unpaid fines and other offences but does not include fines which were paid. The offences are not included in the statistical tables in this publication due to difficulties aligning them with the existing statistical classification. See Table below.

Most categories of recorded crime in Q1 2022 were higher than a year ago with increases in 13 of the 15 categories. The highest rates of increase were in Theft & Related Offences (+43% or +4,247) and Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related Offences (+41% or +1,638). Weapons & Explosives Offences showed the lowest rate of increase at 4.4% or 26. See Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2.

In contrast, there were decreases of 37% or 2,258 in Controlled Drug Offences and 27% or 4 in Homicide & Related Offences. See Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2

This section provides a demographic breakdown of victims of Group 03 incidents (Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related Offences). Please note that the number of victims here may not match the number of incidents in table 1.2 above as there can be incidents where no injured party is recorded.

The overall number of persons recorded as victims of Group 03 incidents (Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related Offences) during Q1 2022 increased by 41% or 1,603 from the corresponding period in 2021. Male victims showed the highest rate of increase over the year at 46% compared to 34% for females. See Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3.

Among males, there were increases across all age groups with the highest rates of increase in the 18-29 year age group (+78% or +403) and those aged 45-59 years (+52% or +212). See Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3.

A somewhat similar pattern was recorded for female victims where there were also increases across all age groups. However, it was those aged 60 years or more (+50% or +28) that showed the highest rate of increase, followed by those aged 45-59 years at 39% or 113. See Table 1.3 and Figure 1.3.