Fraud crime nearly doubled in the past year, according to new CSO figures.

The statistics office says there were more than 17,000 incidents recorded in the year to March.

The 17,354 figure is up 88% on the previous year, when just 9,200 incidents were recorded.

The increases is largely driven by unauthorised transactions and attempts to obtain personal or banking information online or by phone.

The number of most other crimes also increased.

The CSO said kidnapping and related offences was up 38%, while offences against government, justice procedures and organisation of crime was up 24%.

Assault and sexual offences also saw increases of 19% and 13% respectively.

Homicide and controlled drug offences were down by 38% and 26%.

Just 85 offences were recorded in the Garda Pulse database for breaches of covid restrictions in for the first quarter of the year.