Ireland

EFUS “Country profile”: Ireland
Last update: 07/04
Population (2002): 3.917.203

1. Crime statistics

Crime rate (2002): 29,35‰
Global tendency: +2,62% (1996-2002)
Main Offences (2002):
Thefts: 56,7%
Burglaries: 24,05%
Assaults: 5,63%
Frauds: 4,01%
Sex offences: 2,97%
Drugs: 2,79%
Robberies: 2,7%
Homicides: 0,1%
Offenders (1999):
Total: NA
Minors percentage (7-18): 9,0%
Women percentage: 14%
Foreigner’s percentage: NA
More about crime stats
Prison population (2004): 3.600
Prison capacity (2002): 4.147
Age of criminal responsibility: 7
National victimisation survey: No

2. Safety and crime prevention (general)

Police forces: 11.818 (313 per 100.000 inhabitants)
Judicial system workforce: 1.030 (120 judges, 26 per 100.000 inhabitants)
Private security forces: 12.000
Relevant NGO’s operating in the field of crime prevention: Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, Victim Support and Tourist Victim Support Service

3. Competence of State, regional and local authorities / partnerships structures

National Crime Prevention Council: Yes, The National Crime Council (1999)
National actions plans: National Plan against juvenile delinquency (launched by the National Juvenile Office), which heads the program “Juvenile diversion”. National steering committee on violence against women (1997), Stay safe school against sexual exploitation of children (1991), National Educational Welfare Board (against school absenteeism) National Drugs Strategy Plans to fight against arms and explosives traffic. The “Crimestoppers” plan (1998) establishes a partnership between the police, the citizens, the media, the businessmen, to facilitate the information and communication
Regional level sphere of competence: –
Local authorities: –
Role of elected officials (city mayors): –

4. Main Debates

Age of penal responsibility, the reform of the justice system (a few number of judges per inhabitants), alcoholism, domestic violence, increasingly migration issues (following the economic boom in the 1990s).