There has been an increase in the number of homicides of almost 20%.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published new figures on recorded crime for the last quarter of 2012. 78 people were killed in 2012 which 12 more people than died by homicide in 2011.
Sexual offences were also up by 2.2% to 2,059. Burglary and related offences were up by 0.3% while fraud, deception and the like were up by 3%.
But all other crimes showed a decrease. This was seen particularly in attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences which were down by 10%.
Weapons offences were also down significantly as were public order offences.
Homicide offences increased in most regions with the exceptions of the West and South. Likewise, sexual offences increases were seen in most regions excluding the south-east and Dublin Metropolitan regions.
Drop in death by dangerous driving
There was also a decrease in the number of dangerous driving leading to death offences from 21 in 2011 to 18 in 2012.
The CSO report says this may be due to the fact that all road collision investigations for this period have not yet finished which could result in some being re-classified as 'homicide'.
The Justice Minister has welcomed the overall reduction in crime figures.
"These latest statistics confirm the overall positive impact the Gardaí are having on crime. Between 2011 and 2012 there has been an overall reduction of 5.5% in the incidents of recorded crime reported...In particular, the increases in burglary recorded in 2011 are being reversed, coinciding with the introduction of Operation Fiacla nationally, and I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this Garda operation" he said.
But Minister Shatter noted with concern the increase in the number of homicides and condemned those involved in a series of gangland crime-related killings during the course of the year.
"In the 12 month period ending June 2012 homicides were down by 17%. The increase recorded during the last 6 months of 2012 reflects the consequences of gang warfare and I am pleased that charges are now pending in respect of a number of individuals" he added.
