Criminal activity in Dublin is 50% above the national average, while one in every 20 people in Ireland have been directly affected by crime.

A review of crime stats, carried out by the Irish Independent, has found a significant rise in criminal activity in certain areas.

Dublin has the highest rate, with Limerick ranking second.

Waterford - coming in third on the list of crime blackspots - has a much higher record of rape and sexual offences, while violent assaults are more likely in Donegal.

Drink driving is a bigger problem in county Monaghan than elsewhere in the country.

The most common offence overall in the country is theft.

However, despite the rise in certain offences, the overall crime rate has actually fallen by 7%.

Roscommon proves to be the safest county in terms of criminal activity, which is down 15% there in a year.

Originally posted at 7:26am