Violent, sexual crime on the rise – CSO figures

VIOLENT and sexual crime increased in County Wexford last year compared to 2017, the latest Central Statistics Office figures reveal.

The recorded crime figures for the first three quarterly periods of 2018 show increases in rape, sexual assault and violent assault offences, while there was a drop in drug, theft and robbery offences.

There were 90 rape and sexual assault offences in 2018 compared to 70 in 2017.

12 ‘other sexual offences’ were recorded in 2018 compared to three in 2017.

Violent attempts or threats to murder or assault someone stood at 438 compared to 376 for the corresponding period in the previous year.

Gardaí investigated six murder threat cases in the first nine months of last year – on a par for the same period of 2017.

33 harassment cases were probed compared to 31 in 2017.

There were 91 recorded serious assault causing harm offences compared to 79 the previous year and 385 ‘other assault’ cases compared to 251 in 2017.

The number of dangerous and negligent acts committed in the county came to 222 in 2018 compared to 210 in 2017.

There were two child abandonment, neglect and cruelty cases investigated by gardaí in 2018 compared to nine the previous year.

No offences for prostitution were recorded last year compared to one in the first nine months of 2017.

Offences against government, justice procedures and the organisation of crime numbered 141, compared to 151 in 2017.

Public order offences increased from 445 in 2017 to 484 last year as the night-life in towns across the county has increased in parallel with the improving economy.