The level of crime in most categories fell in the 12 months to the end of May.

The majority of headline offences were down - but there has been an increase in the number of kidnappings.

The CSO says burglaries were down by 9% in the first quarter of the year; sexual offences fell by almost 7%; and homicide dropped by over 4%.

Threats to murder, assaults and harrassments fell by 12%, and dangerous and negligent acts fell by 13%.

A 14% fall in weapons and explosive offences was recorded, along with a 13% drop in public order crimes.

However, there was a 6% rise in the number of kidnappings - there were 109 in total, and most of these were false imprisonment.

Shatter reacts

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has issued a statement, saying gardaí have been successful in cutting crime by 8%.

The Minister welcomed the reduction in 13 of the 14 crime groups for which figures were given, as well as overall.

Alan Shatter singled out the reduction of 9.1% in the burglary rate for particular mention. He called it "...a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the measures which the Garda Commissioner has put in place under Operation Fiacla to successfully disrupt and bring before the courts those who seek to prey on law-abiding householders."

Operation Fiacla

• Intelligence driven
• Specific burglary initiatives implemented in each garda region, to target suspect offenders

Justice minister Shatter says, as of May 31st, 5,233 people have been arrested and 2,903 people have been charged with burglary offences as a result of Operation Fiacla. 

This category includes detection of people in possession of an article with intent to burgle.

Other offences

The Minister expressed concern at the increase in one category of theft, theft from the person, which includes mobile phone theft, and which is being tackled proactively in a number of garda operations.

Offences related to anti-social behaviour are down, according to the Minister, by 12.5%. And he welcomed the cut in the number of homicide offences by 4.4%.

However, Mr. Shatter expressed concern at the increase of 5.8% in the kidnapping offences category, there being 109 incidents during the relevant 12 months period, as compared to 103 in the preceding 12 month period.

Alan Shatter also says he's looking forward to launching a White Paper on crime in the near future, incorporating a new National Anti Crime Strategy.