Do You Want to Be a Statistic?

Scroll through social media in Ireland today and it can feel like violence is around every corner. Clips of assaults, intimidation, and harassment circulate daily, creating the impression that we are on the edge of chaos.

But the numbers tell a more complex story.

According to the Central Statistics Office, in 2024 just over 5,800 people were recorded as victims of assault or threats of violence in the Republic of Ireland. With a population of 5.2 million, that works out to about 1 person in every 1,000 being officially recorded as a victim each year.

In Dublin the number is higher, closer to 2 per 1,000. These figures exclude gangland violence and focus on ordinary people – the kind who are just trying to get home safely after work, school, or a night out.

Now compare that to elsewhere.
In England and Wales, violent crime rates are 5 to 10 times higher depending on the measure. In the US, rates of aggravated assault are also several times greater. Even within the EU, Ireland sits on the safer side of the spectrum.

So yes, Ireland is still, by many measures, one of the safer countries to live in.

And yet here’s the very uncomfortable truth: behind every statistic is a real person. Someone who left the house one morning expecting an ordinary day, and ended up on the wrong side of those numbers.

So I will ask again: do you want to be a statistic?

Because while the overall odds might look small, it does not matter if you are the one caught in that moment.

This is not about paranoia. It is about preparation. Gardaí and the justice system have their role, but they cannot be everywhere at once, especially with officer shortages and stretched resources. That leaves the rest of us with a choice:
we can hope for the best and leave our safety to chance, or we can take small, practical steps to reduce our risks and feel more in control.

👉 Stay switched on.
👉 Project confidence.
👉 Teach your children good habits early.
👉 Carry something simple, legal, and effective that buys you time and attention when you need it most.

At Fortfyr, we talk often about the S.A.F.E.R. mindset:

Sense your surroundings.
Assert yourself with confidence.
Feel your instincts and trust them.
Envision safe exits.
Ready yourself with tools and skills.

The mindset comes first. Tools like a Beacon Personal Alarm, a Schrill Alarm, or Farb-Gel spray can support you, but it starts with how you move, how you notice, and how you respond.

We cannot control the world. But we can decide not to hand over our safety to luck or someone else.