Kilkenny crime stats: Rise in sex assaults, drug offences and anti-social behaviour

By COLIN BARTLEY

INCIDENTS of rape and sexual assault, anti-social behaviour, and drug offences have significantly increased in Kilkenny over the past year.

These figures were revealed in the Crime Statistics for Kilkenny published today by the Central Statistics Office.

Overall the figures reveal there has been a negligible increase in the overall amount of crimes recorded year to year, 2,547 as opposed to 2,540 – but the figures show a marked increase in certain crimes.

There was a near 50% increase in sexual offences, including Rape and sexual assault year on year, from 28 incidents for the previous year, to 40 in the most recent report.

Drug offenses, including possession for personal, possession for sale and supply, as well as controlled drug offenses were up over 25%, with 70 more cases recorded year on year – 340 incidents over the last 12 months, up from 270.

The number of incidents of public order offences and anti-social behaviour was also up.

There was a small increase in thefts over the last year with 858 incidents reported, up just 22 on the previous 12 months.

Assaults, attempted murders and cases of harassment were significantly down on the previous 12 months, as were driving offences including drink driving, drug driving and dangerous driving.

The figures were taken from the year starting July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.