New Survey Suggests That Ireland Has The Highest Crime Risk In The E.U.

A new survey on crime in European Union countries shows claims that Ireland has the highest risk of being a victim of crime in the EU.

According to pollsters Gallup, a total of 22 per cent of Irish people surveyed in 2005, claimed that they had been victims of a crime in the previous year, in contrast to the EU average of 15 per cent.

The survey also reports that Ireland has the highest levels of assault, sexual assaults and car theft, and is only one of three countries - the others being the UK and Estonia - to have a higher than average level of pickpocketing and personal theft.

The results of the survey contrast starkly with official government figures from the gardaí and Central Statistics Office.

The survey did reveal strong support for the police with people reporting a positive opinion of the gardaí when a crime was reported and higher than average support for prison sentences.

Opposition politicians were quick to respond to the report. Fine Gael Justice Spokesman Jim O'Keeffe claiming the survey proved that "Ireland is in the grip of a crime epidemic."

"The survey's results show crime levels in Ireland are far higher than official State figures, confirming that very many crimes are not being reported, and that crime has been getting worse under Michael McDowell.

"Even the official crime figures from the CSO show that since his first full year as Justice Minister, murder is up 43%, gun crime up 39%, and rapes are up 25%.

"Ireland is singled out in the EU survey for having the highest level of robbery in the EU, and double that of Greece, which came a distant second. Sixty per cent of robbery victims in Ireland said more than one offender was involved in the crime and that money was stolen in half of all cases. In terms of car thefts and burglary, Ireland was third highest in the EU, while only the UK was higher in both categories.

"These stark findings confirm that urgent action is needed to tackle the growing crime problem. We need to tip the balance of justice back in favour of the victim, not the criminal."

Joe Costello, the Labour Party's spokesman on European Affairs said the survey was particularly compelling because it was "based on people's own experience of crime, rather than on Garda statistics

Mr Costelloe called for Tanaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell to take immediate action to deal with the issues raised in the report, saying that "hardworking families are entitled to live in peaceful law-abiding communities."