The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has defended its claims that crime statistics are being "massaged". It comes after the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan strongly criticised GRA President John Parker for saying new guidelines have led to some crimes being re-categorised to lesser offences.

The Commissioner is on his way to the GRA annual conference in Westport, Co. Mayo to address members this afternoon.

Meanwhile new crime figures out today show an increase in the number of homicides and kidnappings in the past year. But a decrease in a number of other headline categories.

Yesterday the GRA President opened the annual conference of the Association with a bang. He claimed that new guidelines were issued 2 years ago on how to re-categorise some crimes to lesser offences.

That prompted strong criticism from the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan this morning who said he has no evidence to support the allegation and he called on John Parker to clarify his position.

The GRA has defended its stance saying it is difficult to understand how crime figures are reducing at a time when Garda resources are being cut.

GRA President John Parker is standing by his comments ahead of arrival by Commissioner Callinan at the conference today.

 Meanwhile the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has released new figures on crime for the past 5 years. 4 out of every 5 homicides were solved but only 1 out of 4 burglaries were detected over that period.

In the past year there has been an increase in the number of homicides and kidnappings but a decrease in sexual assaults, robberies, burglaries and theft.