Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the quarterly crime figures published on 28 May 2008; his further views on the increase in the number of recorded homicides and the 8% increase in public order offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27020/08]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the increase of almost 60% in the number of public order offences between 2003 and 2007; the steps he is taking to reduce the number of such offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27037/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 102 together.

The recorded crime figures for the first quarter of 2008 issued by the Central Statistics Office for the first time use the new Quarterly Irish Crime Classification System. This system includes some offences which were not previously classified as headline offences.

These statistics, which have to be assessed against the background of an increasing population, show progress across a range of areas.

In the statistics the group of homicide offences shows a significant drop year-on-year of 15.6%. This is primarily due to the level of dangerous driving causing death decreasing by more than half (although the Central Statistics Office caution that all road collision investigations for the period have not concluded which could result in some incidents being re-classified as homicides). While year-on-year cases of murder and manslaughter increased by 26.9% and remain at a completely unacceptable level, the trend has improved in the first quarter of 2008 where there has been no increase on the corresponding period in 2007. I expect further improvements to be manifest when figures for the second quarter are published.

I commend the leadership and members of An Garda Síochána for a number of positive aspects to the figures. For example, robberies of an establishment or institution and of cash or goods in transit decreased year-on-year by 16.9% and 43.3% respectively. I also welcome the fact that what are classified as Controlled Drug Offences are up by 31% year-on-year. As with the increases in areas such as possession of offensive weapons and some disorderly conduct offences, such offences, of their nature, are only recorded if detected by the Gardaí and, accordingly, represent the increased levels of activity in these areas.

The increase in burglary and related offences which have recorded a year-on-year increase of 3.6% and quarter-on-quarter increase of 14.3% is a matter for concern. Whilst not high profile crimes they do cause understandable and enormous distress to the victims. I have been assured by the Garda Commissioner that An Garda Síochána is taking a series of measures to counteract the rising trend for these offences. These include identifying the blackspots and launching targeted operations against those involved in these activities.

Whilst there has been an increase in the number of recorded incidents of public order offences from 2002 to 2007, this increase coincides with Operation Encounter, which was commenced by the then Garda Commissioner in February 2002 specifically to target public disorder and anti-social behaviour.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that all members of An Garda Síochána proactively target public disorder and anti-social behaviour and areas subject to such behaviour have been identified as hot-spots by local Garda management and additional foot patrols and mobile patrols, are directed in these areas during times when these offences are more likely to occur. All such incidents, detected by members on patrol or reported to An Garda Síochána are dealt with immediately and the suspected offenders are dealt with in accordance with the law, including the provision of Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, the Criminal Damage Act 1991, and the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

The increase in the number of public order offences recorded can be attributed in part to the continued increase in enforcement of public order legislation during the years 2002 to 2007. Over 480,000 offences have been detected since the commencement of Operation Encounter.

The Commissioner recently held a Crime Conference with senior management at which the current crime levels were discussed along with sharing knowledge and best practice across the various initiatives and operations in place to target volume crime, organised crime and public order.

I am informed that senior Garda management is satisfied that adequate resources are available to address these types of criminality, which are being targeted through various initiatives at national, regional, Divisional and District level. Personnel allocations are constantly monitored by local management.