The covid-19 pandemic led to a sharp fall in recorded crime last year.
That's according to new CSO figures which recorded drops in the number of sexual offences, burglaries and assaults recorded.
The latest statistics show the number of burglary offences recorded in 2020 was 34.7% lower than the year prior.
Sharp falls in recorded crime in 2020https://t.co/IIzd6PZ91G #CSOIreland #Ireland #Crime #RecordedCrime #CrimeStatistics #CrimeStats pic.twitter.com/R8AVl2Fjin
— Central Statistics Office Ireland (@CSOIreland) March 29, 2021
Meanwhile, thefts reduced by over 24% and robberies fell by 13%.
A 10.6% drop in the number of sexual offences recorded was also noted.
The number of assaults on both men and women was also down, however, there were 61 more assaults reported from women aged 30 to 44 years of age last year.
The overall number of homicide offences recorded for last year rose by nine to 73 compared to 64 in 2019.
According to today's release, the number of crime incidents in categories of weapons offences (+14.9%) and drug offences (+9.1%) rose in 2020 compared to the previous year.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has welcomed the CSO's figures, but says "it is important that we keep in mind that these figures reflect a period when the country spent significant periods in lockdown and there will be no relaxation in the collective effort of the Government and Gardaí to suppress crime as our communities emerge from these restrictions.”
