An Garda Síochána has published provisional crime statistics for 2025 showing a substantial increase in reported fraud and economic crime, alongside reductions across many traditional crime categories.
Key Highlights (2025 vs 2024)
Fraud & economic crime: +137%
Deception offences: +273%
Forgery / false instruments: +160%
Shopping / online auction-related offences: +183%
Money laundering offences: +164%
Counterfeit cash incidents: -77%
Insurance fraud: -43%
Fraud Rise Linked to Online Offending and Reporting Backlogs.
Gardaí note that part of the increase reflects a backlog in reporting from previous years, while also pointing to online-enabled offending as a key driver behind the surge.
Digitally Driven Harmful Communications Also Increase.
“Harmful communications” was among the few other categories to show a notable rise, with 750 incidents being reported in 2025, up from just under 600 in 2024. Reports involving the distribution of “grossly offensive communication” increased by 68%.
Traditional Crime Trends: Robberies and Burglaries Down.
Provisional data indicates fewer reported instances of most major crimes, including a significant fall in robberies. In Dublin, this equated to 230 fewer robberies in 2025 compared with 2024.
Burglaries also declined, with the north-west recording the most dramatic change, including a 34% drop in non-aggravated burglaries.
Operation Thor Cited in Burglary Reductions.
Gardaí attributed improved burglary trends in part to Operation Thor, targeting organised burglary gangs and repeat offenders. Garda statements indicate residential burglary has reduced by approximately 75% over the past decade.
Enforcement Snapshot: Drugs, Cash and Gold Seized.
During 2025, Garda teams reported seizures of €147 million worth of illegal drugs and approximately €6 million in cash and gold.
Public Order: Demonstrations Increase.
Garda figures also indicate an increase in public demonstrations, with around 1,300 events in 2025 — approximately 12% higher than 2024.
Road Safety: Fatalities and Collisions Remain a Major Concern.
The crime-statistics summary notes 188 deaths on Irish roads in 2025 and a 4% rise in total crashes.
Separate road-safety updates reported around 190 fatalities in 2025 based on provisional collision figures.
Domestic Abuse: High Volume of Calls for Assistance.
Gardaí reported receiving almost 67,000 calls relating to domestic abuse in 2025, close to 1,300 calls per week.
Homicide: Levels Unchanged Year-on-Year.
The number of murder and manslaughter offences remained consistent with 2024, with 40 deaths recorded as a result of homicide-related offences in 2025.
Background Context.
Garda commentary referenced CSO data showing Ireland recorded a 7% reduction in overall crime between 2019 and 2024, despite population growth over the same period.
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