Rape Reporting Drop Raises ‘Deep Concern’

The Rape Crisis Centre has expressed deep concern over today’s crime statistics which reveal a decrease of two thirds in the number of aggravated sexual assaults.

A spokesperson said that they believe the decrease is due to victims choosing not to report crimes, and that the general public have lost faith in the criminal justice system following recent rulings in relation to sexual assaults and rape.

Fiona Neary said that fewer than one in six people attending Rape Crisis centres reported crimes  to the gardaí last year down from over one in five people reporting in 2004.
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The Garda statistics show that the number of abductions increased by 50% in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year.

In the first quarter of this year, nine abductions took place compared to six in the same period last year.

The number of murders or manslaughters for the first quarter of 2007 was ten, down from 14 on same period last year.

There were 432 incidents of arson, a rise of over 20% on the first quarter of last year; incidents of possession of drugs for sale or supply were up 25% on the same period in 2006, and robberies targeting individuals were up 14%.

Today’s crime statistics also show a decrease in most categories of theft and burglary.

The incidents of dangerous driving causing death also fell from 24 in the first quarter of 2006 to eight for 2007.