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There was a sharp decline in recorded crime levels in Ireland last year amid continuous lockdown measures to fight the pandemic.<\/p>\nThere was a sharp decline in recorded crime levels in Ireland last year amid continuous lockdown measures to fight the pandemic.<\/p>\n
New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that burglary and related offences fell by over a third, 34.7 per cent, with 5,810 fewer incidents in 2020 compared to 2019.<\/p>\n
Incidents of theft were down by a quarter, 24.5 per cent, while robbery, extortion and hijacking dropped 22.9 per cent.<\/p>\n
Violent crimes such as attempts or threats to murder, assaults and harassment saw 2,882 fewer incidents in 2020, a decline of 13.2 per cent.<\/p>\n
Sexual offences were down by 10.6 per cent on 2019 levels.<\/p>\n
However, women remain at far higher risk of such crimes, even during lockdown.<\/p>\n
The number of male victims of attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences fell by 19 per cent in 2020.<\/p>\n
But for women that figure was considerably lower, dropping just 6.4 per cent.<\/p>\n
The fall in the number of victims was highest in the 18-29 years age group for both males, down by 944, and females, down by 433.<\/p>\n
There have also been increases in certain types of crime.<\/p>\n
Weapons and explosives offences was up by 14.9 per cent, while controlled drug offences jumped by 9.1 per cent in 2020 compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n
The number of homicide offences was nine higher than in 2019, with the CSO saying this was driven by more incidents of dangerous driving leading to death, up 10 on the previous year.<\/p>\n
There were also 1,101 breaches of Covid-19 regulations which were classified as crime incidents by garda\u00ed in 2020.<\/p>\n
These included breaches of regulations relating to domestic travel restrictions, licensed premises, wearing of face coverings and international travel.<\/p>\n