New figures from An Garda Síochána show there was a rise in crimes such as vehicle thefts last year when compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The provisional crime figures for 2022 showed a rise in some major crimes throughout 2022 - but An Garda Síochána cautioned that comparisons between 2022 and 2021 “should continue to be considered in the context of Covid-19”.
Ireland was under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions until May of 2021, with people restricted in where they could travel and many businesses remaining closed for much of the first half of that year.
Gardaí said a “longer trend comparison” with pre-pandemic 2019 figures was advised given the “significant effect on crime” that public health measures had.
Vehicle thefts
According to Garda figures, there was a significant increase in the theft / unauthorised taking (UT ) of vehicles in 2022. Last year saw a 52 per cent rise in vehicle thefts when compared to 2021, and a 17 per cent increase on 2019 figures.
Gardaí said a significant portion of this increase is related to thefts of second hand imported vehicles and the theft of electric scooters.
Meanwhile, the number of vehicle break-ins last year was down 36 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, but up 15 per cent on 2021.
Road deaths
During 2022 there were in excess of 50,000 road traffic collisions reported to An Garda Síochána.
There was a 20 percent increase in fatal road traffic collisions last year compared to 2021, and a 13 percent rise on pre-pandemic 2019, according to the Garda figures.
A total of 37 people have been killed on Irish roads so far in 2023 (up to March 9 ), that is five more than at this stage last year, and seven more that at this point in 2021 - 20 of these were drivers at the time of the collision, and three others were on motorcycles or e-scooters.
Garda add that over 7,750 drivers were arrested during 2022 for driving while intoxicated – four percent more than throughout 2021 and just a one percent drop on 2019.
