Crime Victims Helpline report says Sligo amongst counties that were underrepresented

The Crime Victims Helpline annual report that was recently published said that Sligo along with the eight other counties in the Garda North-western region were underrepresented. Their report explains that the amount of people who contact the organisation are broadly proportionate to the recorded crime in the Garda region. However, the north-western region that includes Sligo, along with Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Longford, Mayo and Galway made up 13.5pc of all contacts to the service, but it made up 16pc of all recorded crime last year by An Garda Síochana. The North-western Garda region was an outlier compared to the other three regions. The Dublin metropolitan area made up 41.5pc of recorded crime and 42% of contacts to CVH, whilst the Eastern Garda Region (Kildare, Meath, Louth, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Wexford) made up 22pc or recorded crime and 23pc of the organisation's contacts. The Southern Garda region (Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow) was the only region to be deemed overrepresented as the contacts to CVH were 2pc higher than the recorded crime in the division (20pc). Crime Victims Helpline is Ireland's national support service for anyone affected by crime. They provide free, confidential and non-judgemental support to victims, survivors, witnesses. The organisation's purpose is to ensure that anyone affected by crime in Ireland has access to compassionate support, trusted information, and a safe space to be heard. Crime Victims Helpline also explains rights and the criminal justice process; and guide individuals to appropriate services. Last year, the helpline supported 5,902 contacts and provided 3,268 referrals. Victims of assaults, harassment and stalking accounted for 45pc of contacts. Crime Victims Helpline also signposted those who contacted the organisation to a wide range of statutory, specialist and community based services. The majority of their signposting related to Gardaí, Garda victim supports office and criminal justice processes. Other services that contacts were signposted to include counselling and mental health supports, legal information, fraud and cybercrime reports, domestic abuse and sexual violence supports, and other specialist victim support services. Founded in 2005, it is a registered charitable organisation funded by the Department of Justice. The free to call helpline provides support and information and can also be contacted over email, text, and web chat. Article funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.