Ierland heeft hoogste misdaadcijfer van EU (en)

Irish citizens are the most likely to be victims of crimes such as theft, sexual attack and burglary, according to a new survey conducted across Europe. The European Commission study, yet to be published but leaked to the Sunday Times, questioned 2000 people across the 15 old member states plus Poland, Estonia and Hungary of the ten new countries that joined the bloc in 2004.

The report suggests that Ireland and Belgium are the only two countries where the ten most common crimes rates have not decreased - as in other EU member states. Ireland recorded the highest victimisation rates for crimes including burglaries, thefts and robberies and was among the five countries where the risk of being assaulted was found to be the highest, reports the Sunday Times.

The newspaper also reports that sexual violence was reported the most by women living in Ireland while the country also has the highest robbery and theft rates - almost double that of Greece, second on list. In terms of car thefts and burglary rates, Britain tops the table. The report - 'The burden of crime in the EU' - was based on the results of an EU International Crime Survey (EU ICS) carried out on behalf of the European Commission.