Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

111. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the immediate measures she has put in place arising from the inspectors' recommendation in relation to the recording of crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16113/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

125. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the names of the members of the expert panel which will review the crime counting rules recommended by the inspectorate; when these members will commence their work; the chairperson of the committee; the frequency with which the committee will meet; the expected time frame given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16176/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 125 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Inspectorate Report on Crime Investigation forms an important component in the overall justice reform programme which is currently under way and in respect of which significant progress has already been made.

An Garda Síochána has established an Implementation Steering Group to focus on the implementation of the short, medium and long-term recommendations in the Report. To assist in the overall reform process a Strategic Transformation Office has been established at Garda Headquarters to co-ordinate the implementation of the reforms arising from the Inspectorate’s report.

As part of this process An Garda Síochána is reviewing all aspects of the manner in which crime is being recorded and classified as a result of the recommendations made in the Inspectorate’s report.

A new Incident Recording Process which addresses the challenges identified in the report has been developed and is currently being piloted in three Garda Divisions. The pilot is focused on achieving data integrity for both crime and non-crime incidents reported to the Garda Information Services Centre (GISC) for inclusion on PULSE.

The compilation and publication of crime statistics is the responsibility of the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency. The CSO is currently carrying out a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the Inspectorate in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime, to see whether and to what extent they may have implications for the crime statistics which that Office produces.I understand that substantial work has been carried out on this project since the report's publication, and that this work is ongoing.

I can also advise the Deputy that the CSO is also to carry out a victimisation survey, as a module in the quarterly household survey later this year, providing an additional and complementary measure of crime to that provided by police recorded crime statistics.

As the Deputy is aware, the CSO has also agreed to chair an expert panel to examine the Inspectorate's recommendations on crime statistics.The expert panel will review the crime counting and detection rules, as recommended by the Inspectorate, with a view to introducing new national standards. I am advised that the expert panel has commenced its work. I am further advised that the precise timeframe for the work of the panel has yet to be determined and the frequency of meetings is a matter for the CSO who chair the panel to determine in the first instance. The membership of the panel is listed below.

Membership of CSO Expert Panel on Crime Statistics