Worrying increase in sex crimes reported to Kilkenny gardai

There has been an increase in the number of sex crimes reported in the Kilkenny Garda Division in the first six months of 2019.

New figures revealed in the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) report on recorded crime detection, shows 47 cases were reported to local gardai in the first six months of 2019, up from 43 cases in the first half of 2018.

Nationally, it was revealed just one in ten sex crimes reported to gardai up until August 2018 has been solved, according to separate CSO figures.

The CSO figures show an 11% detection rate for sex crimes recorded which is the lowest detection rate of all types of crime.

A crime is considered ‘detected’ when a suspect has been identified and proceedings have commenced.

Other crimes such as drug offences and murder and manslaughter have much better detection rates, standing at 85% for drugs and 72% murder and manslaughter.

The CSO have not released a breakdown of detection rates by Garda Division.