Number of reported sexual offences in the Southern region rose by 8% last year

The number of recorded crime incidents involving sexual offences rose by 8% in 2024, with the Southern region having the third-highest number of reported cases.

This is according to figures in the Recorded Crime Q4 2024 report, published by the CSO, which shows that there were 828 sexual offences recorded in the southern region throughout last year — representing an increase of 75 incidents compared to the year prior.

The data also showed that there was an increase of 16% in the number of recorded crime incidents involving sexual offences between quarters, with Q3 in the Southern region having the highest number of incidents recorded for the area, with 268 incidents.

Of those incidents reported in Q3 for the Southern region, 242 related to rape or sexual assault, and 26 were categorised as other sexual offences.

Among the total 828 sexual offences recorded in the Southern region throughout 2024, some 744 related to rape and sexual assault, and the remaining 84 incidents were categorised as other sexual offences.

More victims coming forward

Speaking to The Echo, Mary Crilly of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre said that while a rise in the recorded figures is “welcome”, meaning that more victims are coming forward, there is still progress to be made when it comes to public perception surrounding sexual crimes.

“There has been an increase in the number of people reporting, but I think we’re still at a level where the majority of people still won’t report a rape,” she said. 

“The figures can go up and down on different quarters — an increase is seen as welcome, really. That might seem strange, but maybe at some stage we’ll finally see the prevalence of what’s going on with sexual violence in Ireland.

“The majority of people still aren’t coming forward, and that’s the problem — what we need is a cultural change, so that men and women who are sexually abused or raped don’t feel shame about it.

“If someone is raped, they should be able to say to someone that this happened and that they need help, but that’s not the case.”

Conversation

“The CSO publishing those figures is good because it keeps the conversation going, [because] unfortunately this is happening. There’s definitely been an increase [in reporting] year by year — but this is still only maybe one in four reporting.”

The report further showed that in addition to an increase in sexual offences observed between 2023 and 2024, there was also a 5% increase observed in offences relating to weapons and explosives.

There was also a 13% decrease in homicide and related offences; a 10% decrease in robbery, extortion and hijacking offences; and a 7% decrease in controlled drug offences.