Minister Lenihan comments on CSO Provisional Headline Crime Figures for 2007

Garda Policing Plan for 2008 Will Tackle Crime Effectively

Commenting on the provisional headline crime figures for the fourth quarter
of 2007 and for 2007 as a whole released by the Central Statistics Office
today, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Brian Lenihan
TD, said:

"While the increase in headline crime in 2007 of 1.7% has to be seen
against the background of the unprecedented rise which is taking place in
our population, the fact is that each crime is a crime too many and we
should never lose sight of the fact that these figures represent the many
victims whose lives have been adversely affected by crime.

The figures being published today highlight the importance of the Garda
Síochána Policing Plan for 2008 in tackling crime effectively, reflecting,
as it does, the Government's priorities in this area and underpinned, as it
is, by the greatest level of resources ever made available to our criminal
justice system. I will continue to liaise with the Garda Commissioner on
progress in addressing the policing priorities and meeting the targets of
the Policing Plan, for which I secured resources of €1.616 billion this
year."

The Minister said that the increase in the number of homicides from 67 to
84 was a particular cause for concern. He has been informed by the Garda
Commissioner that the detection rate in the case of murder was 68% and in
the case of manslaughter 100%.

"I commend the Gardaí for the fact that murders involving firearms - which
are predominantly gangland related - were significantly reduced from 26 in
2006 to 18 in 2007. Tragically, however, there was a doubling of the
number of homicides involving stabbing, from 18 in 2006 to 36 in 2007. The
2008 Policing Plan reflects the intensified efforts by An Garda Síochána to
tackle knife crime, including a publicity campaign directed at this
problem. We have to get the message across that carrying knives not only
carries heavy penalties but can lead to disastrous consequences. We have
to be conscious too of the problem of domestic violence which can
ultimately lead to death, and I will continue to support the efforts of
COSC - the agency spearheading tackling the problem of domestic violence".

The Minister welcomed the fact that there had been a substantial increase
in drug detections: an increase of 58.5% in the detection of the
cultivation, manufacture and importation of drugs and an increase of 19.7%
in the detection of the possession of drugs for sale or supply. He said:

"While drugs detections add to the overall crime figures, in reality they
represent the level of Garda activity and success in tackling the drugs
menace and reflect a sustained and comprehensive set of Garda operations
throughout the State. Indeed 0.7% of the 1.7% increase in headline crimes
in 2007 is accounted for by such drugs detections."

While the Minister is aware that complex issues surround the willingness of
victims to report sexual offences, he nevertheless welcomes the continuing
decrease (10.7%) in sexual offences.

The detection rate for crimes committed in a particular year by its nature
increases over time. The Minister has been informed by the Commissioner
that the overall detection rate for headline offences for 2007 is currently
41%, a slight increase on the detection rate of 40.4% at the end of 2006.

The Minister noted that while the number of burglaries decreased by 5.4% in
2007 this represented 22% of all headline crime. Increases in burglary,
theft from shop and theft from MPV largely account for the rise of 6% in
total headline crime which took place during the fourth quarter of 2007.
The Commissioner has informed the Minister that strategies are being
devised by Assistant Commissioners with the aim of taking immediate
remedial action in these areas. The Minister welcomed the continuing
positive trend in the number of robberies of an establishment/institution
(down 26.5%) and robbery of cash/goods in transit (down 35%) during the
year.

The crime statistics are published today on the CSO website (www.cso.ie).

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