Trends in reported rape and assault
Browne asked whether the figures reflected a real increase or more reporting. The Minister cited 1976 and 1977 figures, which showed a considerable increase in reported offences during 1977.
Does the Minister get the impression that there has been a real increase in these crimes or that they are being reported more frequently—are the figures he has given constant or have they been rising during the past five or six years?
Comment on this
In 1976 there were 20 cases of rape reported, 10 of which were detected. We had 43 cases of indecent assault in the same period, 22 of them detected. In the first six months of 1977, the latest period for which we have figures, we had 22 cases of rape reported of which 16 were detected, and 41 cases of indecent assault reported, of which 29 were detected. From these figures the Deputy will see that there has been a considerable increase in these crimes in 1977 so far.