Main types of crime    Nationality    Gender/Age Groups    Outcome   

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) handled 293 referrals in 2005 5. This is a decrease of 17% on the previous year’s figure of 353. 476 tourists benefited from assistance given by the Service, while 357 days were spent on helping tourists’ solve problems arising as a direct result of the crime.

Another 55 cases were referred to the service by Gardaí where no contact was made or assistance given to the tourist. There are a number of reasons for this:

1. Tourist declined offer of assistance
2. Tourist had no time to avail of assistance
3. Referral received too late - Tourist already returned home

An Garda Síochána were the main source of referrals, referring 249 cases (85%), with the highest number coming from the main Dublin city centre Garda stations - Store Street (72) and Pearse Street (30). For the first time, Co. Galway Garda Stations referred the most tourist cases outside Dublin with 10 cases, followed by Co. Wicklow (9) Kerry (6) Clare (5) and Limerick (4).

Other referral sources included Embassies, tourists themselves and the tourist sector, such as hotels, tourist Information Centres and tourist attractions.

Main Types of Crime

Theft from the person which accounts for 60% of referrals (177 cases) is still the main crime referred to ITAS. Theft from cars at 23 cases is significantly lower than last years figure of 52 cases. 79% of these cases relate to thefts from hired cars.

Violent Crime

There were 11 cases of violent crimes against tourists in 2005 compared with 36 cases in 2004. This is a welcome decrease. There was a decrease in all categories of violent crime. The breakdown of this category is:

• Robbery with Violence (4)
• Aggravated Theft (1)
• Robbery with a Threat of Violence (1)
• Assault (3)
• Robbery with a knife (1)
• Murder/Manslaughter (1)

Non-Crime

Each year a considerable number of referrals to the service are cases where no crime has occurred. In 2005, this category made up 62 (21%) of the cases referred. In these situations use of telephone, fax and Internet is usually only required and the opportunity to discuss options and review plans.

Nationality

For only the second time since the inception of the Service has French nationals made up the largest category referred: Following is a breakdown of the top six nationalities referred in 2005:

• French 61 people (13%)
• Spanish 44 people (9%)
• Americans: 58 people (12%)
• Italians 41 people (8.6%)
• British: 56 people (11.7%)
• Germans 35 people (7%).

Gender/Age Groups

Out of the 476 people who used the service, 259 were female (54%), and 217 were male (46%).

The younger age groups of 17yrs-25yrs & 26yrs-35yrs tend to make up the majority of referrals and this was the same in 2005 at 31% and 27% respectively.

Outcome

The aim of ITAS is to offer a comprehensive service in the aftermath of crime, where problems facing the tourist can be addressed with minimal difficulty and financial burden thus allowing them to continue their holiday plans. It is hoped that through this support the impact of the crime is minimal and that tourists return home with a more positive outlook of the country.

After intervention, 80% were able to continue with their holiday plans.

As a direct result of the crime, 34 visitors (7%) had to shorten or abandon their plans and return home. This is typically associated with crimes such as theft from a vehicle, where so many possessions, including luggage is stolen, with the result that it is too much of a financial burden to continue with the holiday.

20 people (4%) were forced to stay on in Ireland. This may be as a result of hospitalisation, theft of their own car, or the need to resolve problems associated with visas, passports and other documentation.

For 42 people, the outcome was not recorded.