Reports of sexual offences increased in first half of year

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The number of sexual offences reported to gardai has increased in the first six months of the year when compared to the same period in 2024, garda statistics show.

Reports of rape are up 4 per cent, while sexual assault reports are up 7 per cent.

Meanwhile, reports of child sexual abuse material and related offences are down 16 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024.

The figures are included in the provisional crime statistics for the first half of the year, which were published on Monday.

In the six months up to June 30th, An Garda Síochána made more than 37,000 arrests, created more than 67,000 criminal charges, and issued nearly 100,000 summonses.

While criminal damage incidents excluding arson were down by 14 per cent, reports specifically about arson increased 20 per cent.

Public order offences were up by 8 per cent.

Gardaí said fewer demonstrations were recorded in the first half of 2025 – 627 compared to 683 in the same period in 2024 – but trends show the volume of such gatherings is increasing again.

There was a slight rise in the number of people reported with possession of an offensive weapon (up 2 per cent) and a 39 per cent increase in reports of a discharge of a firearm, although this represents an overall increase of less than 20 incidents in the period.

Possession of drugs for sale or supply was up 10 per cent.

Reports of fraud and economic crime continue to increase, up 73 per cent compared to the first half of 2024.

Increases have been recorded in forgery (200 per cent), deception (178 per cent), shopping and online auction fraud (166 per cent), money laundering (82 per cent), bogus tradesman reports (57 per cent), accommodation fraud (22 per cent) and account takeover fraud (18 per cent).

There was an 88 per cent reduction in counterfeit notes, while insurance fraud was down by 45 per cent.

There have been 105 fatalities in traffic collisions as of Friday, August 15th this year – down six on the same date in 2024.

In the first six months of the year, there was an 8 per cent increase in arrests for intoxicated driving and a significant increase in penalty points issued for a range of offences, including using mobile phones while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, and dangerous driving.

An Garda Síochána said long-term trends “continue to demonstrate an ongoing and sustained reduction in recorded crime”.

The level of property crime has decreased across all crime types in H1 2025 compared to H1 2024, while overall crimes against the person also saw a slight decrease.

Theft and robbery directly from a person was down 24 per cent while robbery from businesses decreased by 23 per cent. Non-aggravated residential burglary was also down 13 per cent.

Offences of affray, riot, and violent Disorder were down by 36 per cent, the statistics show.