The murder rate in Dublin has soared to alarming levels, according to the latest statistics released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The figures reveal that recorded homicide offences increased by 31% in the 12 months leading up to the second half of this year, compared to the same period in 2022. This represents a significant rise, with murders increasing from 24 to 47 incidents.
The overall crime rate in Dublin has also seen a sharp increase, with offences involving robbery, extortion, and hijacking up by 21% in the same timeframe. This amounts to 410 more incidents, bringing the total to 2,328.
Another concerning trend highlighted in the data is the spike in theft and related offences, which rose by 25% to reach 71,284 recorded cases in the year ending in Q2 2023. Theft from shops alone accounted for nearly half of this increase, rising by 27% over the year.
However, not all crime categories exhibited an upward trend. Instances of fraud, deception, and related offences saw a significant decline of 37%, reaching a total of 10,300 incidents in the same period. This decrease can mainly be attributed to a fall in unauthorized transactions and attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone.
Regarding specific crime categories, burglary and related offences witnessed the most substantial rate of change between 2019 and 2023. Incidents of burglary fell by a noteworthy 46% to 9,004 in Q2 2023 from the 16,583 recorded in the year leading up to Q2 2019. On the other hand, recorded incidents of fraud, deception, and related offences increased by 41% during the same period, rising from 7,304 to 10,300.
In terms of victims, attempts and threats to murder, assaults, harassment, and related offences decreased by 2% compared to the year ending in Q2 2022. The number of male victims fell by 1%, while female victims saw a 3% decline.
While many other offense categories experienced an increase in the year leading up to Q2 2023, including damage to property and the environment (+7%), controlled drug offences (+6%), and offenses against Government, justice procedures, and organization of crime (+6%), sexual offences only saw a slight 1% increase, reaching 3,658 incidents over the same period.
It is crucial to note that crimes reported to or known by the police are recorded as crime incidents if it is determined, based on the balance of probability, that a criminal offense defined by law has taken place.
The latest statistics paint a concerning picture of the crime situation in Dublin, with a significant rise in murder rates, robberies, and thefts. The increase in these offenses demands urgent attention from law enforcement authorities and highlights the need for enhanced security measures and community outreach efforts to curb crime in the city.
