Reported incidents of rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences increased by almost 30% in the Southern and Southeastern regions of Ireland last year. An increase more than five times higher than in the Western and Eastern regions, according to analysis of data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Across Ireland, the number of reported crimes classed as sexual offences - a category that includes rape and sexual assault, as well as comparatively minor sexual crimes - increased by 14.7% last year to a total of 3,026. This was almost 390 more than 2016.
This varied significantly by region; gardaí across the Southern and Southeastern regions recorded increases of 27.9%, and 26.9% respectively. In the same period, reported sexual assaults in both the Eastern and Western regions dropped by around 1% and 5% respectively, while figures in the Northern region increased by approximately one fifth to 350 cases.
"There is probably more of an awareness now that people should report. Obviously that is what we want people to do and every case that is reported is fully investigated. We would encourage victims to come forward," said Sergeant Jim Molloy of the Garda Press Office in response to the rise.
These figures from the latest CSO data release, showed an increase in every type of crime except homicide when compared with totals from the full year to the end of March 2017 to 2018. Sexual offence crimes had one of the highest increases of any crime, along with kidnapping, robbery and fraud, which all rose by around 15%.
Figures show total reported crime has increased across Ireland, as well as in each region. However the rise in sexual assaults in the Southern, South Eastern and Northern regions, as well as the Dublin area, has outstripped the general crime trend.
Every garda district in the Southern region posted an increase in reports of sexual offences higher than the national average, with Kerry recording an increase of 46.3% - one of the highest in Ireland.
In the Southeastern region, every garda district with the exception of Tipperary posted an increase in sexual assaults higher than the Ireland average, with Waterford returning a 56% increase, and Kilkenny, 48.7% increase - again two of the highest increases in Ireland.
All statistics were released under review, meaning they may be revised in the future, as the CSO has expressed concerns over the accuracy of garda recorded data after a review of homicide data in 2014.
Concerns over data quality extend to all crime categories included in the data, from 2003 to 2017, but a spokesman for the CSO confirmed statistics between years are comparable, since the same recording methodology has been applied.
