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Justice Minister Alan Shatter today welcomed the publication by the CSO of the recorded crime statistics for the second quarter of 2011. There was a decrease in all 14 recorded categories compared to the same quarter of 2010.

The Minister said:

The reduction in all categories of recorded crime in the last quarter is very encouraging. While the figures show that the Garda strategies in place to prevent and combat crime are working, both the Garda Commissioner and I are determined that they will not lead to any complacency on our part. The public finances and the resources we have available are under severe pressure. It is vital that we continue to use them to maximum effect.

Minister Shatter added:

I welcome completion yesterday of the passage through the Oireachtas of the Criminal Justice Bill and the Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) (No 2) Bill. The Criminal Justice Bill will provide vital assistance to the Gardaí in current investigations

into white collar crimes and future investigations which may be undertaken. The Community Service Bill is intended to bring about a greater use of Community Service Orders to the benefit of local communities and to save taxpayers' money in terms of prison costs incurred in respect of short terms of imprisonment.

Two key figures to note are the 39.1% fall in homicide crimes and the 37.6% reduction in sexual offences. The full set of statisitics can be found on the CSO website -