Increased number of reported sexual offences in Mayo

CRIME figures are down in Mayo for the first six months of the year, the exception being sexual offences.

There have been 11 reported rapes - up from five for the same period in 2020 - and 28 sexual assaults reported to gardaí, which has increased from 19.

The roll-out of the new garda divisional protective services unit in Mayo is credited with there being increased reporting of offences, with victims more willing to come to a station and make reports.

Superintendent Joe McKenna outlined crime statistics for the Mayo Division at a joint policing committee meeting, with reductions in the main on this time last year.

The other statistics are: assault causing harm 29 (down 1), minor assaults 108 (down 7), burglary 39 (down 4), criminal damage 161 (down 16), public order 234 (down 39), robbery 2 (up 1), ordinary theft 100 (down 5), theft from cars 24 (down 7), and theft from shops stand at 108 - up from 99 for the same period in 2020.

Scams - email and phone - are increasing, Supt. McKenna said, and the advice is that people do not engage with any person or provide personal information via phone, email or text unless you are certain it is a genuine authority you are dealing with. And do not click on links sent by text or email.

The gardaí, other State agencies and banks do not cold call anyone looking for information such as PPS numbers or bank details.

Where incidents do occur, he asked people to report them to the gardaí where they can be assured they will be treated in a sensitive manner.

The number of people who are getting caught is ‘amazing’, he admitted. And it wasn’t just older people, but young people as well, and he advised if purchasing on the internet to be cautious about paying without having something in your hand.

Drugs worth €713,586 have been seized in Mayo since the start of the year. Some €68,000 cash was also seized during these operations.

That morning (Friday) two people were being detained at Ballina Garda Station for sale and supply of drugs.

There have been 54 detections for sale and supply year and six detections of cultivation. Possession for personal use is up 6% with 138 detections to date in 2021.

An Garda Síochána have launched a new national drugs operation - Operation Tara - to tackle drug dealers.