THE NUMBER of homicides recorded in Ireland dropped by 30 per cent last year, new crime figures due to be published today will reveal.
The data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is also set to show an increase in the number of burglaries across the country and an increase in the level of drug crime detected by gardaí.
The data will cover all crime trends in 2008. They include data for the last quarter of the year and totals for the full year. The figures for the year will be compared with crime trends in 2007.
The Irish Times understands the CSO data will reveal the number of homicides in the Republic reached 52 last year, down from 78 in 2007. The fall was in the main part driven by a very significant fall in the number of stabbing murders; from a record 37 in 2007 to 15 last year.
The exact number of drugs and burglary offences was not known last night but both have increased, according to reliable sources.
Burglaries and similar crimes traditionally rise as economies worsen. However, The Irish Timesunderstands the increase was not major last year and is within the traditional statistical swing for various crime types year-to-year.
Security sources said it was too early to determine if the worsening economic conditions were adversely affecting any crime type.
While the drug crime figures have also increased sources said this is because more proactive Garda operations have been put in place to tackle all of those involved in the drugs trade, including street dealers.
The CSO two years ago assumed responsibility from the Garda for compiling and publishing crime statistics. The office publishes quarterly and annual crime statistics for all crime types.
