There’s been a 112 percent increase in the number of arson attacks in Clare in the past 12 months.
Today’s meeting of the county’s Joint Policing Committee has heard that local Gardaí recorded a total 36 incidents of arson last year.
An increase in the number of domestic disputes has also continued.
One of the largest increases in a single type of incident in Clare was in arson, which jumped by 19 to 36 last year.
Eight of these followed burglaries or similar crimes, where the perpetrators burned out vehicles used in the crime afterwards.
One incident of note that highlighted was a case in Lisdoonvarna in July of last year, when a French tourist bus was set alight overnight.
The Joint Policing Committee has also heard there was a rise of 20 percent in the number of sexual offences in this county last year – with 54 recorded here.
Assault crimes, meanwhile, fell marginally by 2 percent – but 452 domestic disputes were recorded last year, up from 295 in 2016.
However, arrests were not made in all of these and Gardaí return three times to complainants in these cases to see if they want to pursue it.
When it comes to thefts and burglaries, certain crimes have increased.
2017 saw 315 thefts from shops – a rise from the 295 the previous year – while thefts from persons rise slightly by three.
Meanwhile, 547 vehicles were detained last year in Clare for having no valid tax, insurance or NCT displayed – a jump of 108 in a year.
And while there are 32 less Gardaí working in the Clare division than the 2008 spike, Chief Superintendent John Kerin says more recruits will be making their way into the county in the coming months.
