Recorded Crime Q2 2022

Fraud crimes showed the biggest increase in the year to Q2 2022

Most categories of recorded crime increased in the year to Quarter 2 (Q2) 2022, but the largest increase was in Fraud offences.

There were 16,202 Fraud, Deception & Related offences in the year to Q2 2022 recorded on An Garda Siochana’s PULSE database, an increase of 43% or 4,877 compared with 2021. This increase was largely driven by unauthorised transactions and attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone. See Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1.

Among the other categories, the highest rates of increase were for Kidnapping & Related offences (+36% or +45) and Theft & Related offences (+23% or +10,559). Incidents of Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related offences were up by 21% or 3,893 while Public Order and other Social Code offences increased by 10% or 2,753. See Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1.

In contrast, there were decreases in Homicide & Related offences (-38% or -24), Controlled Drug offences (-27% or -6,133), and Weapons and Explosives offences (-11% or -314). See Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1.

It should be noted that the crime figures for 2020 and 2021 for some crime categories are likely to have been influenced by the public health restrictions that were imposed as a result of COVID-19.

In September 2020 the CSO introduced two new tables (Tables 1.2 and 1.3) in the Recorded Crime quarterly publication. They illustrate the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on Recorded Crime Statistics by comparing data for the most recent quarter with the same quarter one year earlier. These tables are also included for Q2 2022.

Increases in over half of crime categories in Q2 2022

There were increases in eight of the 14 categories of recorded crime in Q2 2022 compared to a year ago. The highest rates of increase were in Theft & Related offences (+57% or +6,214), Burglary & Related offences (+29% or +557) and Robbery, Extortion & Hijacking offences (+28% or +100). See Figure 1.2 and Table 1.2.

Incidences of Damage to Property & to the Environment increased by 16% or 738 while Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related offences were up 15% or 758. See Figure 1.2 and Table 1.2.

In contrast, the highest rates of decrease were in Fraud, Deception & Related offences (-33% or -1,327), Controlled Drugs offences (-19% or -1,076), and Homicide & Related offences (-15% or -2). Weapons & Explosives offences fell by 9% or 59 while Sexual offences were down 7% or 68. See Figure 1.2 and Table 1.2.

Increase in incidents of Assault and highest among men aged 18-44

This section provides a demographic breakdown of victims of 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 Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related offences during Q2 2022 increased by 13% or 677 from the corresponding period in 2021. Male victims showed the highest rate of increase over the year at 20% compared with 6% for females. See Figure 1.3 and Table 1.3.

Among males, there were increases across all age groups except those under 18 years. The highest rates of increase were among the 45-59 age group (+36% or +175) and those aged 18-29 years (+27% or +186). The number of incidents recorded for those under 18 years of age fell by 3% or 14. See  Figure 1.3 and Table 1.3.

A somewhat similar pattern was recorded for female victims where again the number of incidents fell only for those aged under 18 years. However, it was those aged 30-44 years (+9% or +68) that showed the highest rate of increase, followed by those aged 45-59 years at 8% or 30. The number of incidents among those under 18 years fell by 10% or 35. See Figure 1.3 and Table 1.3.