There has been an increase in most categories of recorded crime in the year up to the end of June this year, according to the latest crime figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.

Fraud offences increased by 43%, largely driven by banking and online fraud.

There have also been significant increases in kidnapping, theft, attempts and threats to murder, and harassment.

However, offences associated with organised crime such as homicide, drugs, weapons and explosives offences decreased.

The incidents of reported sexual offences also continued to increase, going up over 5%.

The figures, which are from the Garda PULSE system, are published under reservation, which means they do not meet the standard required by the CSO.

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The effect of Covid-19 and the lifting of public health restrictions are evident in the latest figures, with increases in 11 of the 14 categories of serious crime.

The largest increase was in fraud offences, with an additional almost 5,000 fraud offences (4,877) committed, mainly unauthorised transactions and attempts to steal personal and financial information online.

Sex offences also increased by over 5% largely because of the increase in reported rapes and sexual assaults. Reported sex crimes against children were down.

Burglaries were up almost 10% in the 12-month period as people returned to the office, but burglaries with violence were down 41.7%.

Theft offences were also up over 22%, representing an increase in over 10,500 cases of car theft, theft from shops, from people and of handling stolen goods.

Drug offences were down by over 26% but while this means a reduction in manufacture, possession and supply cases, drug trafficking increased with importations up over 18%.

Gun crime was also down across all categories (11.2%) with fewer shootings and people caught with guns.

There were three fewer murders and manslaughters, but the reduction in homicide cases by over 37% is largely the result of the reduction in cases of dangerous driving causing death.

There were however increases in other motoring offences with over 5,700 people caught drunk driving, up almost 20% and a 45% increase in dangerous driving causing serious harm.

Public order offences also increased with over 26,000 cases recorded, an increase of over 2,900, and increases also recorded in liquor licencing, betting and prostitution offences.

There were also over 12,000 breaches of court orders and offences committed by people in custody, an increase of over 14%.

More than 19,000 people were assaulted in the 12 months, an increase of over 3,800 assaults and assaults causing harm.