| British tourists are top target for
Irish muggers BRITONS were the most targeted victims of muggings
in Ireland last year.
There are around 4million British tourists to Ireland every year.
In 2006 a total of 86 British nationals who visited Ireland were referred
to the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) making them the most-targeted
tourists for overall crimes at 17 per cent.
The Britons were followed closely by 76 Italians (15 per cent); 50 Americans
(10 per cent); 45 French (9 per cent), 40 Germans (8 per cent) and 37
Spanish (7 per cent).
Overall up to 250 tourists mostly Europeans were mugged in Ireland last
year.
ITAS, which helps visitors who are victims of crime, said the second-biggest
category was theft from cars, usually hired vehicles.
In 2006 ITAS was referred 315 cases by gardaí, hotels and embassies
and assisted 504 tourists.
The biggest crime was theft from person with 153 cases (49 per cent) followed
by theft from cars at 26 cases, which is slightly higher than the previous
year’s figure of 23 cases.
Garda stations in Dublin referred about 75 per cent of cases to ITAS followed
by stations in counties Wicklow, Galway, Cork and Louth.
There were 14 cases of violent crimes against tourists in 2006 compared
with 11 cases in 2005.
These included five robberies with violence, six assaults, two aggravated
thefts as well as one stabbing.
The statistics were released as Sports Minister John O’Donoghue
launched a new ITAS DVD which highlights the services available for tourists
who become victims of crime in Ireland.
However ITAS stressed that Ireland is one of the safest countries in the
world for tourists. |
