Crime is soaring in Ireland. Kidnappings are up 97%, and drug and gun crimes, as well as murder threats, have risen, says an article in the Irish Examiner.

According to a 94-page report by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the number of recorded crimes have increased between 2005 and 2009.

The report revealed that:

- Kidnappings have increased from 74 in 2005 to 146 in 2009.

- Drug offences jumped 65% from 13,322 to 21,983.

- Weapons and explosive offences rose 59% from 2,560 to 4,064.

- Road and traffic offences have increased from 187,078 to 270,857, up 45%.

- Assaults, harassment and threats of murder jumped up 34% from 13,687 to 18,353.

- Dangerous or negligent acts rose from 170,579 to 219,385, up 29%.

There were only two drops in the 16 crime categories. Homicide offences fell 30% from 126 to 88, mostly due to a drop in dangerous driving causing death offenses. And while the number of murders rose from 52 to 56, manslaughter dropped, from 13 to four.

Most of the crime categories fell in the first three months of 2011, compared with the same period last year, a second CSO report found.