The CSO recognises that the repeated deferral of the Recorded Crime Statistics is a source of frustration to users. The most recent Recorded Crime data relates to Q4 2016, published in March 2017. The inability to publish Recorded Crime data since this time has created a vacuum for this information. Cognisant of user needs and of our responsibility to provide our users with the most up to date information available, while identifying and being transparent about the underlying quality issues, the CSO has taken the decision to resume publication of Recorded Crime statistics in the first six months of 2018.

However, as PULSE data – on which the CSO is wholly dependent - is subject to a number of separate ongoing quality reviews and concerns that extend beyond just homicide data, the CSO has made the decision that Recorded Crime statistics will be published in a new category entitled “Under Reservation”. This classification is in keeping with other jurisdictions and other statistical domains. It will serve to indicate to users that the quality of these statistics do not meet the standards required of official statistics published by the CSO.

In parallel with this commencement of publication “Under Reservation”, the CSO will set out the criteria for the lifting of the Reservation and will communicate with An Garda Siochána and users in this regard.

Further details in relation to publication will follow.