Despite fall in crime stats, TD is concerned by numbers of gardaí in Cork

According to data provided to The Echo by An Garda Síochána, within the first six months of this year, members of the force have initiated, on a national scale, more than 37,000 arrests, created more than 67,000 criminal charges, nearly 100,000 criminal summons, issued approximately 3,200 adult cautions, and more than 6,500 referrals to the Juvenile Diversion programme in accordance with the Children’s Act 2001.
Despite fall in crime stats, TD is concerned by numbers of gardaí in Cork

Despite long term trends continuing to demonstrate an ongoing and sustained reduction in recorded crime across the country, with the Southern Region seeing the largest decrease in crimes against a person at -8%, there have been increased reports nationwide in relation to rape and non-aggravated sexual assault, up 4% and 7% respectively, and fraud or economic crime, up 73%.

A Cork TD has said that, despite An Garda Síochána’s provisional crime statistics for the first half of 2025 showing the largest decrease in crimes against a person in the Southern Region, the figures are “deeply concerning”.

According to data provided to The Echo by An Garda Síochána, within the first six months of this year, members of the force have initiated, on a national scale, more than 37,000 arrests, created more than 67,000 criminal charges, nearly 100,000 criminal summons, issued approximately 3,200 adult cautions, and more than 6,500 referrals to the Juvenile Diversion programme in accordance with the Children’s Act 2001.

Despite long term trends continuing to demonstrate an ongoing and sustained reduction in recorded crime across the country, with the Southern Region seeing the largest decrease in crimes against a person at -8%, there have been increased reports nationwide in relation to rape and non-aggravated sexual assault, up 4% and 7% respectively, and fraud or economic crime, up 73%.

During this timeframe, within the Southern Region, there were 200 incidents recorded in relation to sexual offences; 178 incidents recorded in relation to rape and sexual assault; and 22 recorded in relation to other sexual offences.

The highest recorded crime offences in the Southern Region were theft and related offences, with 2,953 incidents recorded; followed by theft from a shop, with 1,616 incidents recorded; and public order or other social code offences, with 1,415 incidents recorded.

There were also 1,256 incidents recorded in relation to disorderly conduct in the Southern Region; 1,116 incidents recorded in relation to attempts/threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences; and 953 incidents recorded in relation to damage to property and the environment.

ARSON

Additionally there was a notable increase on a national scale in relation to arson, up 20%, as well as the possession of an offensive weapon and the discharge of a firearm, up 2% and 39% respectively.

Within the Southern Region, there were 61 incidents recorded in H1 of 2025 in relation to arson, six incidents recorded in relation to the discharge of a firearm, eight in relation to the possession of a firearm and 103 in relation to offensive weapons offences.

Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould said that the statistics show how Cork is “a safe place to live, but only to a point”.

“These figures are showing all the problems that are there due to the lack of garda numbers,” said Mr Gould.

“Almost 3,000 theft or related offences in the Southern Region is a serious figure — it’s deeply concerning.

“I’m not shocked, because we know that we don’t have enough gardaí on the ground."

Cork has been allocated 25 new gardaí at the latest graduation from the Garda Training College in Templemore.

Crime types in the Southern Region which saw the least amount of incidents recorded, with three or less incidents, include manslaughter, infanticide, dangerous driving leading to death, dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, driving under the influence of drugs, dangerous use of a boat or ship, interference with aircrafts or air transport facilities, human trafficking, robbery of cash or goods in transit, prostitution, trading offences, conspiracy to commit crime, perverting the course of justice, fireworks offences, importation of drugs, possession of an article with intent to burgle, carjacking/unlawful seizure of a vehicle, abduction of a person under the age of 16 years old and murder attempts.

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