The number of reported crimes in Galway increased slightly last year, according to the latest figures released by An Garda Síochána.
The figures for crime in Galway city in 2014 were revealed at a meeting of the city’s Joint Policing Committee this week.
A total of 7,086 crimes was reported to Galway gardaí last year, representing an increase of 1.2 per cent on 2013. However there were significant decreases in key areas, most notably sexual crimes.
Some 515 burglaries were reported in the city, representing an increase of 17 per cent on last year. Thefts from the person, meanwhile, decreased by eight per cent with 126 reported incidents.
There were 462 thefts from a shop, representing a drop of 16 per cent on the previous year. Thefts from a vehicle rose by nine per cent last year, with 312 crimes reported in this category. Other thefts were down seven per cent, with a total of 312 reported incidents.
There was a significant increase in detections of possession of drugs for sale or supply, with 119 cases in 2014 representing a 52 per cent rise on the previous year. Cases of simple possession — the possession of drugs for personal use — stood at 223, a drop of 12 per cent.
A total of 158 people were arrested in the city for drink driving, a drop of 15 per cent compared to 2013. There were no fatal traffic accidents in the city last year.
The number of assaults in the city rose last year, though there were no reports of causing serious harm, the most serious category of assault under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. There were 72 reported incidents of assault causing harm, an increase of three per cent, while minor assaults rose by 18 per cent, with 216 reported cases.
Galway saw a total of 1,061 public order offences last year, a drop of some 13 per cent on 2013.
There was a total 35 sexual crimes reported in the city in 2014. There were 10 reported rapes, involving both male and female victims, representing a drop of 23 per cent compared to 2013. Sexual assault incidents decreased by 35 per cent, with a total of 25 reported incidents. There were no reports of aggravated sexual assault in the city last year.
