There has been a rapid rise in the number of domestic dispute incidents in Clare in the past 12 months.
This afternoon’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee, which is sitting in Kilrush, has heard that there have been 375 reports recorded on the local Garda Pulse system in the first 10 months of the year.
That’s up from the total figure of 237 last year, while burglary and drink driving detections have eased.
From Kilrush, Clare FM’s James Mulhall has more:
Gardai in Clare responded to 375 domestic dispute callouts in the first 10 months of the year – it’s a major jump in last year’s total of 237.
But arrests were not made in all of these and Gardai return three times to victims in these cases to see if they want to pursue it.
There has also been a worrying rise in the number of sexual assaults – there have been 44 reports so far this year, versus 37 in the same period last year.
The vast majority of these are committed by a person known to the injured party.
For theft and related offences, there was a 1% rise to 760, while damage to property rose by 5% to 375, while arson attacks rose by 19 to 32 in total so far this year.
Thefts from shops in the first 10 months of the year total 277, marking a rise of 22.
However, there is more positive news when it comes to burglary related offences.
These saw a 15% drop so far this year to 198 – while that figure is down 46% on the December 2008 one.
Drink driving arrests have also seen a reduction of 6.
Overall, 20,446 incidents have been recorded on the Garda Pulse system in Clare in the first 10 months – while last year’s total figure was 26,097.
Meanwhile, compared to the 2008 high, there are 32 less Gardai working in the Clare division – something highlighted as an ongoing challenge.
