Gardaí report 67% increase in drunken offences in Dublin city

Kenneth Fox

An Garda Síochána said there has been a 67 per cent increase in drunken offences in Dublin city.

The updated figures are part of the gardaí's high-visibility policing plan, which included a pop-up clinic in the Dublin Docklands on Thursday, attended by assistant commissioner Cliona Richardson.

An Garda Síochána established the pop-up clinics in Dublin's Docklands (North and South side), with consultation from the Dublin Docklands Authority, Dublin City Council, Local Community Safety Partnerships and the North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC).

Gardaí said the introduction of the high-visibility policing plan has seen significant trends in the Dublin area.

During the period from 22nd March to 22nd September 2025:

There have been increased proactive policing detections for:

- Public Order Offences +18 per cent

- Drunkenness Offences +67 per cent

- Drugs for Sale or Supply +3 per cent

- Drugs for Simple Possession +30 per cent

Speaking at the event, assistant commissioner Cliona Richardson said: "As part of the Dublin City High Visibility Policing Plan, An Garda Síochána has established Pop-Up clinics in Dublin’s Docklands.

"The clinics provide an opportunity for local organisations, business stakeholders and members of the public - including residents and those visiting Dublin - to engage with their Community Gardaí.

"There is a particular focus on a 'Business Watch' scheme aimed at supporting staff working in retail in the area. Attendees are able to able to seek guidance and advice from the Community Policing team on a range of issues."

Ms Richardson said a six-month review of the high-visibility policing plan shows very positive results, with downward trends in several areas, such as theft and robbery

Garda interventions have increased by 15 per cent, with:

- Arrests over 3,750 (over 20 every day)

- Charges/ Summonses nearly 8,000 +20 per cent (over 40 every day)

Impact - Certain crime analyses are trending downward:

- Theft from Person -28 per cent (Approx four thefts from the person per day)

- Robbery from the Person –30 per cent

- Robbery Establishment -9 per cent

- Begging -57 per cent

- Minor Assaults -4 per cent

- Assaults Causing Harm -17 per cent

There have also been increases in the following areas:

- Assault/ obstruction Peace Officer +29 per cent

- Obstruction under the Drugs Act +38 per cent

- Theft from Shop +6 per cent

They said there is an increase in the recording of these incidents as a direct result of the high-visibility presence of gardaí in Dublin city centre.

Other demands on policing resources include an increase of 62 per cent in demonstrations.

An Garda Síochána continues to supervise attendance at major events such as public demonstrations, concerts and sporting events in Dublin City and environs - often occurring concurrently - during which large volumes of members of the public travel through the city centre.

These events include GAA All-Ireland fixtures, Soccer Internationals, NFL/College American Football, and Concerts (Croke Park, Marley Park, Malahide, Fairview, 3Arena, Phoenix Park).

Examples include Oasis concerts in Croke Park on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August 2025 (over 160,000 attendees); Zach Bryan concerts in the Phoenix Park on 20th to 22nd June 2025 (over 180,000 attendees), the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers versus Minnesota Vikings game at Croke Park on 28th September 2025 (over 72,000 attendees), and Dublin Culture Night on 19th September 2025, (over 40,000 attendees).