This report details the results of the Department of Justice’s first Criminal Justice Public Attitudes Survey. The nationally representative survey provides an overview of public confidence in the Irish criminal justice system and perceptions of crime and community safety in Ireland. A sample of 1,511 adults aged 18 and over in Ireland were interviewed through face to face interviews in November and December 2021. The survey sample was representative of the total Irish population based on gender, age, social class and region. Results have been analysed by key sub groups such as demographics, deprivation score and previous interactions with the criminal justice system.

The perceptions of Crime and Community Safety section explored the public’s perceptions of the prevalence of different types of crime in their local area and their levels of worry about being a victim to various types of crime. Of the areas of crime listed people using or dealing drugs was considered to be the biggest problem in people’s local area with one in two (51%) perceiving this to be a problem and one in four (24%) seeing it as a big problem. Two in five (39%) perceived burglary or theft to be a problem in their local area and one in three (34%) people being drunk or rowdy in public places.

P.28 Perceptions of crime levels differed by deprivation score. Those in disadvantaged areas were significantly more likely to state that drugs were a problem with circa three in five (59%) stating this versus circa two in five (39%) in affluent areas. Those living in Dublin and those living in more disadvantaged areas across the country were significantly more likely to state that people being drunk/rowdy in public places (40% and 45%) and vandalism or deliberate damage were a problem in their area (44% in Dublin and 42% in disadvantaged areas). The perception of assaults or violent attacks being a problem was also higher for Dublin versus outside Dublin (29% versus 22%).