Comment: Garda visibility is the key to pushing crime figures down further

Latest crime figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show a reduction in burglary and theft offences in the Meath Garda Division last year. The number of drug offences, assaults and sexual offences also decreased but the number of public order offences increased in 2024.

Burglary and related offences decreased by 11 per cent last year from 401 offences recorded in 2023 to 356 offences last year. Within that category, a total of four aggravated burglaries were recorded last year, down from six in 2023. The number of burglaries (non-aggravated) fell from 387 in 2023 to 348 last year, a decrease of ten per cent.

There was a seven per cent reduction in the number of theft and related offences last year with 2,312 offences recorded in 2024 compared to 2,474 the previous year.

Very encouraging figures but naturally, they come with a caveat in that not all crime is reported and there is no room for complacency and committed crime figures should give no one cause to celebrate.

That's underlined by the worrying fact that robbery, extortion and hijacking offences increased slightly from 56 in 2023 to 59 last year, a rise of less than one per cent.

There was a 12 per cent reduction in the number of controlled drugs offences in 2024 from 421 offences in 2023 to 370 in 2024.

The number of drink driving offences recorded in the Meath Garda Division saw a decrease of 23 per cent from 213 in 2023 to 163 last year. Does that mean the number of drink drivers on our roads has fallen substantially or just that there are less checkpoints and traffic stops taking place? You would love to think the message on intoxicated drivers is finally getting through. However, drug driving offences recorded increased from 18 in 2023 to 20 last year meaning there is still much work to be done.

The number of sexual offences fell from 120 in 2023 to 95 in last year. Within that category the number of rape and sexual assault offences recorded fell from 92 to 82.

Assaults causing harm reduced by 13 per cent from 148 to 129, while other assaults fell by five per cent from 412 to 393.

The increase in the number of public order offences - a total of 554 offences recorded in 2024, up nine per cent from 507 in the 2023 does strike a dour note on otherwise encouraging figures.

There is much to be positive about these latest CSO figures with the exception of the public order stats - these can really skew our perception of crime and its associate fear, vulnerability and safety concerns.

Garda visibility remains stubbornly below national average in Meath and way out of kilter with a rapidly increasing county population.

Meath received nine new gardai in the most recent distribution of recruits but we need more. Visibility is a deterrent to those who wish to cause trouble in our towns and villages. Visibility is the way to foster a sense of security and a reduction in fear and trepidation. Visibility shows our communities, both urban and rural, they are not alone.