Post by RedFlag32 on Aug 27, 2006 12:48:29 GMT
Ireland has worst crime rates in EU
Enda Leahy and Richard Oakley
IRISH people are more likely to be victims of crime than any other country
in the EU — according to a new European commission study. The report,
which has yet to be published — found Irish people are more at risk of
assault, burglary, theft and sexual attack than most other EU states.
Ireland was singled out as the country with the overall highest
victimisation rate for 10 common crimes in 2004 by the survey, which also
found that common crime had “decreased significantly” in all EU states
“with the possible exceptions of Belgium and Ireland”.
“The burden of crime in the EU” is based on the results of an EU
International Crime Survey (EU ICS) carried out on behalf of the European
Commission by respected research bodies such as Gallup and the Max Planck
Institute.
About 2,000 people were surveyed on their experiences of crime in the 15
old EU member states and three new ones, Poland, Estonia and Hungary.
Ireland recorded the highest victimisation rates for crimes including
burglaries, thefts and robberies and was among the five countries where
the risk of being assaulted was found to be the highest.
Experiences of sexual violence were reported more often by women in
Ireland than any other EU country and while the overall figures of
“contact crime” were described as “comparatively low” Ireland had more
than twice the average rate of robbery, nearly double that of Greece—
which came second on the list.
About 60% of all robbery victims said that more than one offender was
involved and money was stolen in about half of the cases.
“Ireland emerged from the EU ICS 2004 as a high crime country,” the report
concluded. “Robberies especially are more common (in Ireland) than in the
rest of the EU.”
Jim O’Keeffe, Fine Gael’s justice spokesman, said the report was “a
damning, independent and objective assessment of the current government’s
failure to adequately address crime issues”.
“This report doesn’t surprise me, but I am glad it has been carried out,
because it confirms everything I have been saying for the last few years
about Michael McDowell’s failure to get to grips with crime.”
Analysis of the results included in the report found a direct link between
violent crime and consumption of alcohol. Ireland had the highest
consumption of alcohol recorded and only Britain showed a higher
prevalence of assaults and threats.
“Alcohol abuse in Europe is no longer— as in the 19th century— associated
with extreme poverty and related social problems,” it said.
“Alcohol-related violence is rather to be seen as one of the downsides of
modern affluence.”
In league tables of both car thefts and burglary rates Ireland came third
highest. Only Britain recorded higher levels in both categories, coming
top in burglaries.
The report also claimed that Ireland had the highest number of households
with burglar alarms, at almost three times the EU average.
Despite the high levels of theft and assault, below-EU- average levels of
hate crime, consumer fraud and corruption were reported.
Follow link to continue article:
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2330485,00.html
Enda Leahy and Richard Oakley
IRISH people are more likely to be victims of crime than any other country
in the EU — according to a new European commission study. The report,
which has yet to be published — found Irish people are more at risk of
assault, burglary, theft and sexual attack than most other EU states.
Ireland was singled out as the country with the overall highest
victimisation rate for 10 common crimes in 2004 by the survey, which also
found that common crime had “decreased significantly” in all EU states
“with the possible exceptions of Belgium and Ireland”.
“The burden of crime in the EU” is based on the results of an EU
International Crime Survey (EU ICS) carried out on behalf of the European
Commission by respected research bodies such as Gallup and the Max Planck
Institute.
About 2,000 people were surveyed on their experiences of crime in the 15
old EU member states and three new ones, Poland, Estonia and Hungary.
Ireland recorded the highest victimisation rates for crimes including
burglaries, thefts and robberies and was among the five countries where
the risk of being assaulted was found to be the highest.
Experiences of sexual violence were reported more often by women in
Ireland than any other EU country and while the overall figures of
“contact crime” were described as “comparatively low” Ireland had more
than twice the average rate of robbery, nearly double that of Greece—
which came second on the list.
About 60% of all robbery victims said that more than one offender was
involved and money was stolen in about half of the cases.
“Ireland emerged from the EU ICS 2004 as a high crime country,” the report
concluded. “Robberies especially are more common (in Ireland) than in the
rest of the EU.”
Jim O’Keeffe, Fine Gael’s justice spokesman, said the report was “a
damning, independent and objective assessment of the current government’s
failure to adequately address crime issues”.
“This report doesn’t surprise me, but I am glad it has been carried out,
because it confirms everything I have been saying for the last few years
about Michael McDowell’s failure to get to grips with crime.”
Analysis of the results included in the report found a direct link between
violent crime and consumption of alcohol. Ireland had the highest
consumption of alcohol recorded and only Britain showed a higher
prevalence of assaults and threats.
“Alcohol abuse in Europe is no longer— as in the 19th century— associated
with extreme poverty and related social problems,” it said.
“Alcohol-related violence is rather to be seen as one of the downsides of
modern affluence.”
In league tables of both car thefts and burglary rates Ireland came third
highest. Only Britain recorded higher levels in both categories, coming
top in burglaries.
The report also claimed that Ireland had the highest number of households
with burglar alarms, at almost three times the EU average.
Despite the high levels of theft and assault, below-EU- average levels of
hate crime, consumer fraud and corruption were reported.
Follow link to continue article:
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2091-2330485,00.html