Crime rates

The latest crime figures were released a few days ago, giving rise to a number of headlines (see here and here) highlighting the sharp rise in the numbers of bombings and shootings and a proportionate drop in the number of people charged since the year the Belfast Agreement was signed.

This may help to account for the accute discomfort felt by many people in province at the seemingly unending nature of the process, and its apparent lack of success in bringing about peace.

However, it’s also worth looking at the rate of fatalities, which reached a high pitch in the year the Agreement was signed, but which has tailed off considerably in the years since.

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