Significant increase in fraud despite reductions in major crimes
According to provisional year-end crime statistics provided by An Garda Síochána, there was an increase fraud-related crimes throughout 2025.
THERE was a significant increase in fraud-related crimes throughout 2025 compared to 2024, according to provisional year-end crime statistics provided by An Garda Síochána.
Throughout 2025, there was significant reduction in most major crimes compared to the year previous, including decreases in robberies, thefts and sex offences. However, fraud-related crimes rose by over 130% compared to 2024, with online fraud activity growing in particular.
Large increases have been recorded in deception (up 273%), forgery/false instruments (up 160%), shopping/online auction (up 183%), ‘card not present’ fraud (up 95%), and money laundering (up 164%).
There was also an increase in fraud related to bogus tradesmen (up 43%), accommodation (up 17%) and account take over (up 10%). However, reductions have been recorded in counterfeit notes/coins (down 77%), phishing/vishing/smishing (down 11%), and insurance fraud (down 43%).
Gardaí have said they warned in 2024 that there was likely to be an increase in reported fraud statistics throughout 2025 as the high volume of section 19 referrals were processed.
Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011 places a legal obligation on financial institutions to report on possible frauds.
Nationally, the number of reported harmful communications offences has increased by upwards of 27% compared to 2024. There were nearly 750 incidents of harmful communications recorded in 2025 compared to just under 600 in 2024.
Harmful communications include the distribution of grossly offensive communication (up 68%) and people recording (up 29%) and distributing intimate images (up 8%).
The number of sexual offences reported has decreased by 12% compared to 2024, including rape (down 11%), sexual assault (not aggravated, down 16%), and child sexual abuse material and related offences (down 26%).
Gardaí received nearly 67,000 domestic abuse-related calls in 2025, an increase of approximately 2% compared to 2024. This equates to approximately 1,300 contacts every week.
2025 also saw an increase in arson attacks (up 1%) and public order offences (up 4%).
Robberies from shops and establishments was down 23% throughout the year. There were also recorded reductions in theft from person (down 22%), aggravated burglaries (down 14%), residential burglaries (down 16%), criminal damage (not including arson, down 10%) and theft from vehicles (down 16%).
Gardaí credit two specialist garda operations, Thor and Táirge, with the reduction in property and retail crime. Both operations target organised crime gangs and repeat offenders through co-ordinated crime prevention.
Possession of drugs for sale/supply increased throughout 2025 (up 13%), as did obstruction under the drugs act (up 32%). However, possession of drugs for personal use decreased by 6%.
Possession of a firearm increased by 7%. Possession of an offensive weapon also saw an increase (up 5%). Discharging a firearm, however, saw a decrease of 3%.
Gardaí say that during 2025, the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) seized illicit drugs valued at over €126 million (subject to analysis) and cash of €2.8 million and £0.27 million.
In addition, Gardaí say, during 2025, the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) seized illicit drugs valued at over €21 million (subject to analysis), and nearly €2.9 million in cash and gold.
There were 54,000 road traffic collisions in 2025, almost 150 a day, an increase of 4%. 188 people died on Irish roads throughout the year. The number of people caught driving while intoxicated remained similar to 2024 levels at 8,100 drivers.
Over 24,000 people were caught using their mobile phone while driving, an increase of 11.5%. There were also increases in driving without reasonable consideration (up 25%), provisional or novice drivers illegally operating a vehicle (up 11%), people caught not wearing seatbelts (up 6.5%), driving in bus lanes (up 16%), and parking in a clearway or in a disabled bay (up 15%). There was a 4% increase in the numbers of cars seized.
During 2025, Gardaí have initiated over 74,000 arrests (200 persons a day). Approximately 6,200 adult cautions were administered, while there were over 13,000 referrals made to the Juvenile Diversion programme in accordance with the Children’s Act 2001 (35 juveniles referred every day).
Gardaí point to CSO figures that show Ireland has recorded a 7% reduction in crime while undergoing a 9.3% increase in population since 2019.
